UNindian movie review: Another diasporic hybrid film!

Cast: Tannishtha Chatterjee, Brett Lee, Akash Khurana, Supriya Pathak Kapur
Director: Anupam Sharma

 

As a cross-cultural love story, UNindian is different. But, just about it. Mostly, it’s yet another one from Indian diaspora films screaming to be distinctly unusual. UNindian has an independent-minded Meera (Tannishtha Chatterjee) as the head of MNC Cochlear, and is an unyielding Indian single parent living in Sydney with her daughter after her divorce. As she performs her motherly duties, rises to the top in her firm and buys her own apartment, her life veers towards a match her mother chooses for her — Samir (Nicholas Brown). Simultaneously, her chance encounter with an Aussie (Lee) is another turn in her loveless life. To add some mystery to the story, former cricketer Brett Lee has been cast as the lead that sure is a casting masterstroke.

His entry hasten up the proceedings: As Wills Anderson, who teaches “Aussie English” to new immigrants, he gets smitten with Meera, though she doesn’t fall for him like a tonne of bricks (she is still very much an Indian!). Not one to feel disappointed, he asks his childhood friend TK (Arka Das) to teach him about Indians so that he could embark on the task of winning her over. A few flashes that are predictably Bollywoodish, keep your interest alive. But, if you are expecting some dramatic turns in this formulaic plot, you shouldn’t; not much happens thereafter. And if you thought, director Anupam Sharma would make this generic crossover film with some newness in storytelling with sparks that also would be expecting a lot.

But my problem is more serious: not too many laughs or odd situational humour. Many of the scenes are also unsubtle and too obviously melodramatic. Despite being stiff at times, Lee gets the tenor tight, and doesn’t disappoint. When in his comfort zone of high-spirited humour, he keeps up with the demands of his character. . I am also glad that Chatterjee has at last found herself a role where she may not be finding it too demanding to display her experienced histrionics. For a change, it’s a role that has her playing a modern woman.   The upbeat feel of the film is undemanding, and doesn’t have any surprises in store. Watch it if you want some simple stuff that doesn’t annoy you.