{image1}Gurinder Chadha, director of "Bend it Like Beckham" may not draw in American teen girls to see her latest film, "Bride and Prejudice," with soccer, but she ought to get them anyway with her featherweight "Bollywood" reading of Jane Austen's classic novel "Pride and Prejudice."
With its PG rating -- there is nary a reference or inference of sex or swearing to be had during these two hours -- and its story of love conquering all obstacles, young girls will swoon. The uptempo music -- which blends traditional Indian music, reggae-flavored bhangra and Indian-spiced pop -- gorgeously colorful outfits and lots of girl talk won't hurt, either.
Mrs. Bakshi (Nadira Babbir) wants to find the perfect (read "rich") husbands for her four beautiful daughters. When successful London-based Indian lawyer Balraj (Naveen Andrews) arrives as best man at the wedding of a family friend, she is thrilled when he takes a shine to her eldest daughter Jaya (Namrata Shirodkar). And his rich American friend Will Darcy (Martin Henderson) has eyes for the second eldest daughter Lalita (Aishwarya Rai).
And from here on out, the movie becomes the rocky tale of Lalita and Will, who seem to hit if off only to veer off course moments after they meet. A series of miscommunications and roadblocks continues to fall into their path until it seems clear that they simply aren't meant to be together.
But let's face it, the movie's plot is not a hard one to predict as the film unfolds. Will they be able to overcome these obstacles -- including cultural differences and backgrounds and family opposition -- to be together? We won't tell, but we can promise that you won't be surprised.
Some wacky comedy offers some insight into what Indians think of some of their brethren who have made new lives in America and England and vice versa, and we want to cheer when the outspoken Lalita defends her country in every situation against everything from dabbling tourists to condescending outsiders.
Oh, and did we mention it's a musical? With its brilliant colors and everyone breaking into song and dance every 10 minutes or so, you might dub it "The Umbrellas of Mumbai" or, perhaps during the cheesier pop numbers, "An Indian Grease."
At times funny, at times cute and always thoroughly predictable, "Bride and Prejudice" isn't a bad movie, but it's certainly got more appeal for some audiences than for others.
And girls, stay tuned, the director is currently working on a film version of "I Dream of Jeannie."
"Bride and Prejudice" opens Friday, Feb. 25 at Landmark's Downer Theatre.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
