Review of Bride & Prejudice (2004) by Nived N — 17 Mar 2010

Despite containing a predictable East meet West drama plot, ''Bride & Prejudice'' is such a barrel of fun. Set in Punjab, Mrs Bakshi (NADIRA BABBAR) determines to get her four daughter married to rich-cultured guy, amongst them Lalita (AISHWARIYA RAI), a free-spirited, mature women. has her own kind of dream man with whom she wants to get married. Later William Darcy (MARTIN LENDERSEN) enters the pictures, initially Lalita hates due to his arrogance over his richness but slowly and steadily they both fall in love.

Based on Jane Austin's prominent material, GURINDER CHADHA gives a Bollywood treatment which is very unique. The plot may not be so tightly written like her previous films ''WHATS COOKING'' & ''BEND IT LIKE BEKKHAM'' which had a strong plot but what u surely get is the interesting characters which makes the film a complete satisfying watch. the flip-side is the second half, the same old sub-plot of sister running away with a man she hardly know, then comes hero who saves her and the entire family starts adoring him and arranges marriage with their daughter. I wish Gurinder used some novelty in it. The Songs (ANU MALIK, Lyrics: ZOYA AKHTAR & FARHAN AKHTAR) are hummable and choreography by SAROJ KHAN is cheesy yet enjoyable especially the Punjabi wedding song is a delightful sequence.

AISHWARIYA RAI is easy to eye, She underplays her role beautifully, You don't find any signs of over-acting. MARTIN LENDERSON has a good-personality, he's earnest as well. ANUPAM KHER is charming as Aish's father who never give up to support his daughter at any cost. NAMRATA SHIRODKAR, PIYA RAI CHAUDARY & MEGHANA (Of ''Prem Aggan'' fame) compliment each other very well, THE COBRA DANCE, which Meghana perform in front of her guest is surely going to bring the full house down.

However, the film belongs to NADIRA BABBAR & NITIN CHANDRA GANATRA. Nadira is deliciously over-the-top as nagging mother Mrs Bakshi. Scenes focusing on her is a pleasure to watch because it hardly bores you. Whereas Nitin Chandra is outstanding as the bizzare American-born creepy business man Mr. Kholi, he is so hilarious. His style of eating, sound he makes while laughing,the way he look at Aish, in other words he is no less than mental asylum patient. Still he is a complete show-stealer.

Overall, BRIDE & PREJUDICE is far from perfect cinema yet it's a good-feel entertainment which will hardly disappoint you. Watch it for AISHWARIYA, NADIRA BABBAR & last but not the least NITIN CHANDRA'S sparkling performance.