A Nice Indian Boy

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!

Rarely does a film come along that is as effortlessly charming, deeply heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud funny as A Nice Indian Boy. This beautifully crafted romantic dramedy takes a fresh, sincere, and utterly delightful look at love, family, and cultural expectations-all wrapped in a warm, feel-good package that will leave audiences smiling long after the credits roll.

Directed with an intimate yet playful touch, the film follows Naveen, a young Indian-American man whose picture-perfect romance with the charismatic and kindhearted Keshav is complicated by one thing-convincing his traditional parents that this is, indeed, their nice Indian boy. What unfolds is a story brimming with wit, warmth, and moments of pure emotional resonance as Naveen and Keshav navigate family, tradition, and the beautifully messy journey of love.

A joyful, poignant, and utterly captivating film, A Nice Indian Boy is a triumph-one that deserves to be celebrated and cherished.

This movie will probably grow in cult status as the perfect Indian gay rom-com. From perfect beats from longing and insecurity, to meeting the one, to dealing with the rigidities of South Asian culture in a humorous, compassionate, and yet authentic way this movie has touched my heart. The two gay leads are fantastic. And the family is perfectly cast, including the angry face of the jealous sister! This movie is the fantasy of many gay men - to be loved, to be accepted, and to be celebrated just as we are. Add to this the poignancy of Indian and Pakistani men who deal with cultural prejudice to homosexuality, which is addressed and silenced directly in this movie, and you have a rom-com standout. Go see it. It will touch your heart, no matter what your sexuality or ethnicity is. 💚

Naveem is a young man of Indian / Hindu heritage, working as a doctor. 6 years earlier, as his sister gives up her career to wed (parent introduced) a nice Indian boy, everyone is telling Naveem he is next. A mild problem is that Naveem is gay. His parents have different reactions - his father doesn't want to talk about it, while his mother overcompensates, obsessed with watching Out TV.

Jay (Jonathan Groff) is an orphan adopted and raised by (now deceased) Hindu parents, and is currently a freelance photographic artist. Naveem 1st spots Jay at temple, where they are praying to Ganesh, and soon after meets him as the hospital's ID photographer. A relationship develops, as they bond over the Bollywood classic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. However, when Naveem introduces Jay to his parents, he tries too hard to not upset them, causing friction with Jay.

It took me some time to realize that the action took place somewhere in the Indian diaspora community in the west. The location is unstated, though it was shot in British Columbia, Canada. I was also puzzling over the foster parent / adoption situation of Jay, and the aversion to the 9/11 date for the planned same-sex wedding.

There are references to the Indian culture, especially the practice of (semi-) arranged marriage, and the adaptions required.

The set decorations are tightly packed. It is no accident that there are various images of Ganesh. Also, a family photo of Jay's is included in Jay's art exhibition, which features male erotica.

This is a worthwhile new take on the gay rom-com genre.

What a lovely little movie. Another Queer romance with happily ever after, and that made me happy too!

I think lots of South Asians will relate to many of the situations shown in the movie, be it being South Asian and gay, be it the worried but avoiding the gay topic father, the stereotypical mother who has two different rules for her son and daughter, the parent pleaser daughter and her woes of being in a loveless marriage, society's expectations and unwanted involvement, there were many of those moments. And all were acted out beautifully.

The two things i was disappointed with, lack of Jay's character development because u get to know him as an adopted white guy with indian parents who wants a big indian wedding, which he tells Naveen on the very first date. It's like he sought Naveen out because he is Indian and that means he can have a big indian wedding. And that's it, throughout the movie Jay was all bout trying to be part of Naveen's family. Also the overdose of DDLJ didn't sit well with me.

Other than that, it was a lovely watch because the actors made it a lovely watch. Hope to see some more of happy queer movies in upcoming days.