A Nice Boy navigates the complexities of love and acceptance within the Indian American community.
Roshan Sethi’s film, initially titled ‘A Nice Indian Boy’, features Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff in lead roles. The narrative centers around Naveen, an Indian American doctor, who faces the familiar pressure of familial expectations at his sister’s wedding. He is inevitably asked when he will marry a nice Indian girl. However, being gay, Naveen ponders the possibility of bringing home a nice Indian boy instead.
Naveen finds a potential partner in Jay, portrayed by Groff, who is an adopted son of Indian parents. Jay’s affinity for his cultural roots is apparent, particularly through his admiration for the classic Bollywood film, Aditya Chopra’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which Naveen dismisses as corny and absurd. Through this dynamic, A Nice Boy seeks to reflect the ‘bigness of love’ that makes DDLJ iconic, while also addressing themes of acceptance and adjustment within the context of a low-key drama.
Originally adapted from Madhuri Shekar’s play, the screenplay by Eric Randall allows the film to meander along with observational humor and solid performances. However, the lack of traditional conflict, such as the shock over Naveen’s sexual identity or the challenges of integrating a foreigner into the family, sometimes leaves the narrative feeling ungrounded. Jay’s existing familiarity with Indian culture diminishes the tension typically associated with such scenarios, causing the reactions from Naveen’s parents, Megha and Archit, to seem underwhelming.
Additionally, Naveen’s sister, Arundhathi, played by Sunita Mani, has her own reasons for being skeptical about Jay. Yet, even this subplot feels somewhat forced and contrived. The film’s tendency to lean into the conventions of Bollywood romance may further dilute its impact, as it seems to grapple with the very tropes it aims to subvert. Despite the evolution of Hindi cinema since the conservative norms of DDLJ, A Nice Boy strives to tackle the dilemmas faced by Naveen and Jay without dragging the narrative. Running at a concise 96 minutes, it explores Naveen’s struggles but falls short in adequately developing the characters of his parents and Arundhathi, as well as Jay.
The modest production features notable actors, including Jonathan Groff, known for his roles in Glee and Mindhunter, and Karan Soni, recognized as the taxi driver Dopinder from the Deadpool films. The cast also includes veteran Harish Patel and rising star Zarna Garg. With Justin Baldoni among the producers, A Nice Boy offers a unique perspective for local audiences curious about the experiences of those who are gay, of Indian origin, and fans of Bollywood in America. However, viewers may still find themselves with lingering questions once the film concludes.
Ultimately, while A Nice Boy aims to present a fresh take on the Indian American experience, its brisk pacing and sketchy character development may hinder its ability to deliver a convincing narrative.
