WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The cloaked truths we never knew. As family, it’s gratifying to imagine that after the copious amounts of time spent together, all the circumstances that we’ve been through, and what we hoped were the transparent realities experienced overall that there would therefore be a peace in saying “I TRULY understand, treasure, admire, and adore them”. However, when facts come to light that shatter this idyllic notion, how do you choose to face the ramifications that follow? For college freshman Alia (Sophia Ali), coming home for summer break means precious time with her mother Sheila (Manisha Koirala), father Ranjit (Adil Hussain) and her bestie Neha (Anita Kalathara). But, in an upscale neighborhood of socials, gossip, and general snobbery, Alia’s time home gets upended by guarded secrets coming out that fracture her entire mindset about her family. Turning for comfort to a newly met beau named Varun (Rish Shah), whose parents Bhairavi (Deepti Gupta) and Kamlesh (Kamran Shaikh) own the local Indian store, it becomes a tale of overcoming lies, seeking what’s real, learning about the past, exposing actuality, and finding the fortitude to forgive, but to also stand tall.
Next, my Mind:
It was closing night at the 2021 NYC South Asian Film Festival sponsored by Toyota USA and hosted by Festival Director/Jingo Media Founder Jitin Hingorani and Artistic Director Ambica Dev, and nothing could have capped off the superbly presented weekend with more dramedy-infused spirit and indie film style than the fresh feature film effort from writer/director Geeta Malik, producers Naomi Despres, John Penotti, and Gigi Pritzker plus executive producers Kilian Kerwin and Rachel Shane. A delightfully appealing combination of wry, witty, satiric humor and wholehearted, credible, affecting dramatic intent wrapped within a grander message that shines a revealing light on the pitfalls of social classification, untruths kept silent, familial bonds suddenly splintered, and the hard yet healing lessons garnered from it all, the film was a splendid slice of entertainment and well-paced enjoyment to end two and a half days of high quality South Asian cinema.
Drawing the viewer into a narrative that sees a young woman’s entire thought pattern about the family she believed she knew get decidedly upended upon multiple instances coming about that show her everyone was not who she thought they were, the film deftly explores how surface perceptions and even deeper comprehension of those we look up to and have trusted can still get shaken immensely. It then becomes an exercise in the resentment elicited because it and the means by which we then try to cope accompanied by the newfound desire to then dig into it more or otherwise isolate ourselves with an embittered viewpoint and all the worst scenarios playing out in our heads. Separation from the source of the pain and searching for said resolutions through others we feel more apt to turn to also gets its time to be examined here, but it still ultimately comes down to the willingness to confront all involved, air out the grievances, take a firmer stand by admitting who WE really are, and then choosing to acknowledge we will no longer be prisoners to our pasts, societal standing, or that which the community culture and “expectations” would keep trying to dictate we adhere to.
Additionally, the tale is willing to make us have to take a look within ourselves in order to realize that much of the manner and attitude we claim we’re against may actually exist IN us as well, which is a sobering conviction to admit, much less encounter. These facets are given a wonderfully intelligent pathway to be showcased, as hinted at above, through a magnificently executed mix of hilarity (the party scenes alone are an absolute RIOT!) as well as impactfully stirring drama that hits home and provides the film with that viably relatable, “I KNOW what you’re talking about there!” vibe that indie cinema is so adept at providing. And, as is also a commonality in South Asian film, the story carries its underlying messages about the nature of still-existent class division that really do pack a punch when you stop and analyze the truths about it that this effort projects, again through both comedic and serious avenues. This critic has always appreciated how those kinds of notions are interweaved into the greater tapestry of what we take in, and by the film’s assuredly apropos finale, the resolutions we’re entreated to serve to remind us about one particular concept that is overcome and should apply to our own lives when we’re open to do so–“it is easier to compromise than face the truth.”
Ali is a spirited, endearing, impassioned, fiery, vulnerable, and resolute force of nature in her portrayal of Alia, a vibrant college student looking forward to the down time during summer break to reconnect with a beloved family and friends. However, when one moment initiates a spiral of shock, discomposure, and soon angry resoluteness towards her family, it sparks a journey of self-discovery and and an eye-opening launch into freedom from all the conventions she’s been immersed in for so long and possibly grown complacent or apathetic towards to a point of blindness to how shallow it has all been. Trying to ascertain the roots of the issues she now faces, the help she initially connects with is a source that not only changes her personally, but will end up redefining the whole family’s dynamic forever. It’s a beautiful blend of that aforementioned jocular tone paired with the more tense drama that Ali brings out with excellent composure, technique, believability, and just straight-up skill, doing full justice to the character throughout the film and giving us that “You GO, girl!” demeanor along the way, even more strikingly and exceptionally during the film’s final act when it ALL hits the fan, shall we say! Watch the film, folks, watch the film.
Highly accomplished acting veterans Hussain and Koirala provide us the perfect examples of those skills being brought to bear through their roles as Alia’s parents Ranjit and Sheila, who end up having to find out the hard way that secrets just never stay hidden and that the consequences from them being unveiled can have far-reaching, life-altering reverberations. The levels of initially defensive reactions they each have when their moments arrive are played out with finesse and appropriate degrees of emotional weight, which then leads to their further performances as the story moves forward and we see the drastic but necessary instances they both experience to finally propel them to manage their mistakes and make the choices best for their future, all of which takes on an interesting turn as events play out, with both Hussain and Koirala’s talent for unfeigned, fervent poignancy in their performances coming out with both entertaining and compelling urgency and poise, a total credit to their acting prowess individually and together while on screen.
Gupta is yet another potent model of energetic vigor yet in a more sublimely subtle but no less vivid or deeply effective manner through her turn as Bhairavi, part of a middle-class couple who are shopkeepers at a local store and who becomes the unanticipated (but needed!) cause of upheaval in Sheila’s life when a mutually shared tie to their pasts comes about. Bhairavi also makes herself available to Alia in a way that help shed further light on the situations at hand, and by the time everything comes full circle, it is Bhairavi and Sheila who are able to forge newfound respect and mended fences that become paramount for them both. It’s an elegant performance Gupta delivers and is simply one more piece of this incredibly talent-laden cast we get to relish for the film’s 101-minute runtime. Shaikh plays his role as Bhairavi’s husband Kamlesh with understated ease, and he has some very specific moments during the story that allow Shaikh to utilize both comical and more serious acting chops.
Shah plays Varun, Alia’s new summer fling and the son of Bhairavi and Kamlesh who becomes quickly enamored with her but as time goes on, starts to question the “realness” of the world she comes from and whether she’s any different than the rest of the uppity denizens who inhabit it. Kalathara is Neha, Alia’s best friend who more than definitely becomes both sounding board and attempted voice of reason to her closest friend as they both try to navigate the perils of socialites and scandals, especially as Alia’s life begins to unravel. Ved Sapru is Rahul, a young man with a history involving Alia and the future they are supposedly arranged to have together, though he begins to get a wake up call when Alia starts to see Varun, which Rahul cannot really comprehend in how different their realms of company are. Priya Deva makes VERY key appearances in the film, but won’t spoil anything by revealing it! I had the honor of Deva sitting with me during the Festival screening closing night, which was quite a fun and, for me, surreal experience!
There are a huge number of additional supporting appearances, too many to list here, but please honestly understand that as I always aim to do as much as possible–YOU ARE APPRECIATED and your performances, no matter how brief, well, MATTER! So, in total, “India Sweets and Spices” represents the unequivocal wonder of independent cinema and what it can accomplish by just being exactly what it is and should be: smartly done, entertaining but also relevent, and a reflection of our humanity in a manner that we can always hope and trust will have the influential power it should while allowing us to just sit back and smile. Yes, this was a lot to say, but sometimes, things ARE just WORTH proclaiming and giving credit to.
Miss the film at either physical festival? Be on the lookout, as it will be getting a limited but nationwide release on November 19th! Check your local listings and catch it if it comes to your town!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
