A Nice Indian Boy

I learned about this film from social media a few months ago after a film festival, so I decided to watch it on opening weekend. I expected a cute, but maybe not particularly interesting rom-com, with a dash of the immigrant family wackiness of so many comedic films. Paying for this movie ticket was the best investment in mental health of the past six months, and I'm delighted to say this movie is nearly perfect. The script is very good, based on a play that I later learned is loved by the U. S. South Asian community. The direction is simply stellar and allows the excellent writing and inspired performances to breathe and reach the audience. The delineation of the script into clear parts, each of which (in some sense) represent the typical act structures of films is clever, especially because in many ways the conflicts and resolutions happen in unexpected places within that structure. I loved the performances by the romantic couple, and the family, which is in many ways the "entity" one half of the romantic couple has to win over, and the entity the other half of the couple must be won by, if that makes any sense. For queer immigrants, or queer children of immigrants from cultures that cultural researchers call collectivist and family-centered, this film will speak loudly and make them feel seen and understood. There are some very special moments between each member of the family and the members of the romantic couple, and in some ways, the audience. In my screening, one particular speech by one family member had the whole room sniffling in suppressed tears. The best part is that all the touching parts of the film are elegant, not schmaltzy or cheesy, and they are well-balanced with hilarious moments and clever humor. The characters could have been caricatures and stereotypes, and the film revels in preventing that, creating fully realized people whose behavior and feelings are explained by motivations and experiences that are not immediately evident. Congratulations to the whole production team, cast, and everyone involved. Thank you for such a beautiful film!

Well, who knew that Dopinder was gay? Deadpool would've been so proud of him coming out. Just kidding. LOL.

This is a feel good Indian rom-com with a lot of family dramas. It's the classic parent-children conflict about accepting the person that their children has chosen to be with. Just add the word "gay" and the drama is doubled. But the parents weren't bad, I promise. There's no need to be alerted. This movie is well acted and directed. The Bollywood reference was a little old and outdated, but still relatable, even in this era. I would've rated it 7 stars, but somehow I wasn't feeling strong vibe from Naveen and Jay. And everybody knows the secret ingredient in rom-coms is chemistry. That's why I deducted 1 star from my initial rating. But the movie is a good, so don't hesitate to put it on your watch list.

Saw this film last night...so so good. Will make you laugh and cry and will leave you just feeling good. The performances are amazing, and the story is just spot on wonderful. Given how crazy the world is right now, I can't think of a better way to spend 90 minutes.

So, if tariffs have you down and you are feeling depressed, or if you are a diehard MAGA, this is a movie that might help to bring people of all political views a bit closer together and think about the things that we have in common vs. Drive us apart. After all, everyone wants to believe in love and happy endings and we all have crazy families that intermittently drive us crazy and then fill us up with warmth and comfort. Go support an indie film. You won;t regret it!

"A Nice Indian Boy" is the warm hug of a film we didn't know we desperately needed.

It's tender, hilarious, and deeply heartfelt - a love story that doesn't just center queerness, but roots it in culture, tradition, and family in a way that feels authentic rather than tokenized. Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff have electric chemistry, the kind that sneaks up on you and suddenly has you grinning like a fool by the third act.

The script is sharp without trying too hard, blending laugh-out-loud moments with quiet emotional punches that land right in the chest. And let's talk about the parents - nuanced, endearing, and refreshingly real. No cardboard villains here, just humans trying to make sense of a rapidly changing world.

In a time when representation still feels like a checkbox for most studios, A Nice Indian Boy feels like a film made with genuine love - love for its characters, love for its culture, and love for queer people trying to carve out space in the mess of tradition and identity.

Final verdict: A total gem. Add it to your must-watch list immediately. Then rewatch it with your mom.

Like everyone else around him, all Naveen wants is to find someone to fall in love with. While tip-toeing around his family, colleagues, and the world, his life is changed when he meets Jay. Now, for the sake of love, Naveen must get out of his comfort zone and do what must be done.

This is a terrific romantic comedy that many people, especially young South Asians, can relate to, regardless of sexual orientation. The story explores more than the couple's relationship. It examines arranged marriages versus love marriages, the meaning of love, and the anxiety and trepidation immigrant parents feel in modern society and when connecting with their adult children. The film encompasses the entire range of human emotions while keeping it light and funny. The only drawback is that some background knowledge of Bollywood is necessary to fully appreciate it. The one-hour and thirty-six-minute investment in this film is well worth it and should be seen as soon as possible.