American Desi (2001) Reviews

• Rethinking American Desi

  ratmsf2006-06-02

  I originally saw American Desi when it was first released in theaters and I was in the 8th grade. At the time, I enjoyed the movie's humor immensely and proudly showed the film to several of my non-Indian friends. However, now in college, I look back at the film and compare it to the atmosphere amongst Indian Americans on my college campus. What themes does the movie promote? Krishna (Kris) is the "white-washed" Indian guy leaving for college, where he hopes to escape Indian culture and immerse himself in American society. However, by the end of the film, Kris's questions about himself as well as his relationship problems with Nina are all resolved entirely by a revival of ethnicity or a "return to roots." This suggests that not only was Kris's "white" lifestyle preceding this transformation (a good 17 years) one of confusion and illegitimacy but that also his "rediscovery" of his Indian heritage seemingly acted as a panacea, curing all his apparent woes. While some may suggest that the film actually promotes an embrace of both American and Indian cultures, neither the plot nor the characters suggest such a moderate theme. Kris not Nina undergoes character development throughout the film and allegedly emerges a better individual because of it, thus suggesting that only his "confusion" could be faulted for the couple's incompatibility. Furthermore, the white characters we see (while few and far between) are negatively depicted. Eric, Kris's white friend, is a bumbling, lecherous fool, who falls out of the plot completely (and inexplicably) and serves only as an invisible reminder of Kris's past confusion. Similarly, Kris's relationship with Nina is almost ruined when she finds him with a drunk, promiscuous, and conveniently white woman, who patronizes Indian culture by claiming to want to learn more about the Kama Sutra. Lastly, we see a white student rushing into the first day of his engineering class only to hear his professor remark that 1 in 3 students in the class will fail by the end. He forlornly looks to his left and right: an Indian student and a student of unidentified Asian origin. As if seeking revenge against the stereotypical depictions of Indians in traditional cinema, the film seems to suggest that these few, shallow, white characters represent the supposed stupidity, drunkenness, and immorality of American culture. After witnessing the extensive self-segregation of Indian American students on my college campus, I couldn't help but acknowledge these messages in film that I had enjoyed so much. Who defines the parameters of culture? While Nina utilized her own definition of "white American culture" in her criticism of Kris, many students hailing from India (not Indian American) often believe students like Nina to be confused in their fervent embrace of what they believe is true Indian culture. By the end of the film, Kris has adopted much of Indian material culture (food, garb, dance) and has accepted the notion of having Indian friends (and apparently no white friends), but how has his behavior changed? What new core ideas, if any, emerge after this transformation? While it might be too much to ask a comedy like American Desi to answer these questions, considering how comfortably we accept ethnic self-segregation and similar ethnic revivals in college, we must ask ourselves if the questions of culture and identity can be so easily resolved by mere association or material changes.

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• Good Movie

  ramdawg2001-05-16

  For an independent film it did a great job. Purva Bedi is hot, a good blend of east/west humor, and a good written script...I went to see this movie and there needs to be more movies like this one that shows indian culture in a good light and not behind a 7-11. -Ramesh

• a little bit american, a little bit desi

  CAMKG2003-01-31

  After having seen films like Bend It Like Beckham, Bollywood/Hollywood, American Desi seemed like familiar territory but nevertheless a very one. For those who think the film is cliched, they didn't get it. Because it is meant to give those cliches a humorous look. The humor in the film is very well done. Instead of having an offensive or critical view of anything in particular, the film takes more of a funny spin on things. There are oddities and stereotypes in every culture; the film tries to give the american and desi cultures a bit of a homage, with a chuckle of course. 8/10.

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• Sometimes unreal, sometimes funny

  wynkerts2001-04-04

  Stereotypical in parts. Don't tell me a Sikh would dress like that on campus! Also what's with the last name Reddy (south Indian) and speaking Hindi with a northern accent at home? It should have been something like Singh or Kapoor. Little things like this mess up the story's authenticity. Someone should have caught that. The other contrived scene was the crooked Indian shopkeeper - I know they lack in good service, but not that bad! Unless they were calling attention by way of a parody. Overall it was a fun movie. Good job by the director/actors.

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• Pathetically Amateurish Portrayal of Stereotyped Immigrants

  darashukoh2005-04-05

  ****SOME SPOILERS**** American Desi is an amateur production which is not nuanced, comical, or even close to the reality it pokes fun at. The term "DESI" is Indian for native and is colloquially used outside South Asia by Indians to refer to anyone or anything that has an Indian flavor. Considering the lead character's determination to distance himself from things Indian, the title is misplaced. Particularly so, when it becomes clear that the film is made from an Indian-American perspective i.e. Americans of Indian descent who do not necessarily know much about India. The characters of this movie are all one-dimensional stereotypes - the overly garrulous Sikh (played rather badly by someone of Bengali descent who could not enunciate the Punjabi accent), the ridiculous TA who speaks with his fly open, the uptight Indian girl who won't kiss the guy, and the crooked shopkeeper who overcharges the customers. The film appears to be a diatribe of dislike against Indians. Moreover, it is riven by confusion. The heroine's confusion in leading on the lead character and then slapping him for kissing her, the confusion as to whether the Indian roommates are Indian (as in FOB's - fresh off the boat immigrants) or ABCDs(American born confused desis), and confusion as to the objective of the movie - identity questions of the lead character or a general comedy about stupid Indian bumpkins. Adding to this mess are crucial details - a north-Indian aarti (prayer invocation) performed by an obviously south-Indian family, problems about the details of Muslims praying are examples. In short, the film is about how Indians are perceived by Indian-Americans, not about their lives. It is only marginally more accurate than the horrific unPC portrayals of Indians (and other South Asians) in Hollywood movies. As an aside, while APu from the SImpsons is not the best (as in accurate) representation, his character is developed enough to be funny and is fairly well researched. In the end, the viewer is left mystified as to the object of the movie apart from making a few crude jokes about Indians. Perhaps this is the result of angst against "Mummy, Daddy" translated into celluloid. Don't get me wrong, I can take any jokes about Indians and Bhaji on the Beach, Bend it Like Beckham, The Kumars at No.42 (BBC TV series) are great examples of sharply humorous images of expatriate Indians; but this film's humor is based on the crudest of devices and failed to amuse me.

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