Namastey London

Namestey London is a refreshing film in that it gives centre-stage to a British woman of Indian origin, and does not portray her as a one-dimensional, rich-girl vixen, tempting the Bollywood hero away from his constant, truly Indian, girl-next-door. Instead the central character of Namastey London, Jasmeet 'Jazz' Malhotra, played by real British Asian Katrina Kaif, is being pressured into travelling to the Punjab to have an arranged marriage. Moreover, Jasmeet's Muslim friend Imran is in a similar position, a man with a white girlfriend who is deplored by his family.

Namesty London is an enjoyable film, with a quirky, engaging plot and characters. The cast is generally good, with comedian Nina Wadia fine as Jasmeet's mother, Javed Sheikh assured as Imran's dictatorial father, and Akshay Kumar suitably playing up to his zany character, but never overdoing it as Arjun, Jasmeet's arranged husband. But Rishi Kapoor deserves a special mention. His performance as Jasmeet's father is not only funny and delightful- he also manages to find real anxiety and confusion.

Unfortunately, with the exception of Kapoor, Namestey London as a whole attempts, but fails to achieve the deeper, more profound socio-political shades it seems to be aiming for, and it is with this that I take exception. Despite having a refreshing set-up and more than one-dimensional characters, Namastey London cannot quite shake off traditional, as well as superficial, Bollywood conventions about British people, whether Anglo-Saxon or of Asian extraction.

The first is the assumption that ethnic Indians raised in the west are more westernised than native Indians, fully absorbed into the dominant western culture, living the fast, modern, materialistic life- full to the brim with confidence, even arrogance. While some do, this is not a typical experience. Rather, it seems to me, native Indians can be more like this. Such Indians are likely to be wealthy, urbanised Indian residents. Go to a 'Café Coffee Day' in one of Bombay's more fashionable districts, in Bandstand for instance, overlooking the bay, and you may find young Indian women from wealthy backgrounds talking loudly, and self-consciously, about guys, jobs, fashion, and other girls, all in a vulgar way, as they try to imitate their image of westerners.

In my experience, no doubt informed by my being a British Asian, the majority of British Asians tend to have grown up in a fragmented cultural environment, divided between the dominant western culture outside the home, which has historically not been welcoming to them at times, and the insular, ossified, traditional culture that their parents stick to at home, trying to recreate an India which, rather ironically, is fading away.

I feel that the makers of Namestey London have tried to grasp this cultural fragmentation in Jasmeet 'Jazz' Malhotra's situation, not least in displaying her cultural fragmentation in her two names, the formal Jasmeet and her nickname outside the home, Jazz. She has a stern, backward-looking father and a forward-looking mother wishing for her daughter to become modern and westernised. I have no problem in understanding that people in real life have such backgrounds, except that I find Jasmeet's particular character, as explained by her family's circumstances which have produced her character's psychology, to be too simplistic and therefore unconvincing. 'Jazz' clearly comes across as the product of a preconceived, modern, urbanised Indian imagining of a young British Asian woman, rather than a fully researched and thought through British Asian character, rooted in a more secure sense of reality. True, the actress who played her, the fast-rising Katrina Kaif, is a British Asian, but strangely her performance seems to have been more informed by her years in the United States. Contrast her performance with Rishi Kapoor's, as noted above, and you will see that this doesn't help the film.

The second Bollywood convention that the film retains concerns its depiction of Anglo-Saxon British people. There is no doubt that many British people have had something of a colonial hangover in their relations with Indian immigrant communities, which has manifested itself at times in the form of racism. However, the British characters in Namestey London are nothing more than stereotypes of a jaundiced colonialist Indian imagination. It makes for unintentionally uproarious comedy- such as when Charlie Brown introduces Jasmeet and her arranged, but still unofficial husband, to his relative. Charlie's relative is, funnily enough, a descendant of an East India Companyman, who himself seems to have been transported from a cantonment at the height of the Raj. And though it is good to see, in the same scene, Jasmeet telling him of the many successes of modern India, something which needs stressing to many in the west too hung-up on India's continuing failures, this is lazy film making- they should show this through situation and character.

Still, though it is weighed down by traditional Bollywood conventions, Namastey London does engage the viewer and attempts to shed light on the South Asian Diaspora in London, just don't take it too seriously.

Story is good,it revolves around Katrina Kaif(jasmeet, Jazz), A London born and raised Indian girl,She wants to live her life her way and not according to his parents but movie takes a twist with entry of Akshay,whose love forces Katrina to marry him.Besides movie also shows friendship of Indians and Pakistanis in London.Some dialogs and scenes showing greatness of India are also there.Katrina is looking fabulous in movie.Punjabi people will have great fun watching movie. on the whole a nice time pass.Rishi kappor has also done a great acting.Upen is also good.the only thing that sounds insane in movie is Akshay falling in true love with Katrina on first sight and whole story moves further on this base.

After jab we met this romcom really stood for me ..music , plot , location , performances every thing is amazing...Himesh's best music

Akshay Kumar! Akshay Kumar does such an incredible work in this movie, he becomes the heart and soul of it. A simple yet loving character played by him is so sensational couldn't describe in more words. Anybody would be in love with the character he is in the movie. Rishi Kapoor was amazing, magnificent. From the best of the cities to the simplest of the villages, the culture, the beauty, the nature, you'd learn it all in this movie. You learn how much impact the culture has on a person growing up. You learn the simplicity. You learn acceptance. You learn you haven't got the best, but you and your loved ones are the best. You see two different kinds of humans getting along with each other so beautifully but the modest one with his simplicity making sure he goes through the tough times, has patience and stays positive without losing the hope till the end. You will be in love not only with the plot, the characters and the whole story but more with the culture of the society. I loved even the songs in this movie, Rafta Rafta tera Afsana tera huaaa, rafta rafta, it suits the moment so much. It's not only gripping but made me cry like I was the last person watching this incredible work of art. We're obliged a team was able to create such a wonderful peace of work with enormous brilliance and magnificence. I loved Katrina's role too. I'd watch it with my kids sometime, tell them this is Akshay Kumar for you sons. Although he's the meme king of India, he's always in our hearts for the wonderful work he has committed to over the years with proper discipline. Thank you for reading it this long, you must've got to know I'm an Akshay Kumar fan, if not I'm drunk. Only the former is correct, but what I love is such work performed with absolute brilliance, be it comedy, be it action, but it's my hat off to this perfection. Talking about perfection, Welcome is a perfection in Comedy genre. I have my review over there too folks. Take care and enjoy every moment of life. No go don't waste much time, I'm a Writer I just wanted to pen down my thoughts. Thanks.

It was a fun to watch. Akshay was amazing. It could have been better but all in all a good time pass flick. I only went to watch the film due to Katrina .. but ended up applauding the Character of Akshay Kumar The plot is simple yet so complex. Guy loves the girl. Girl doesn't but so much happens in between that you cant just help laughing. Rishi kapoor is very funny in his role of a worried Punjabi father.Katrina is gorgeous she and Akshay make a good couple. The acting makes this movie good although the first half was a bit boring before Akshay's entry.. I think this film should do well.... All in all a fun film.. watch it .. enjoy it..then forget it...