December Movie Guide: Jane Austen Edition
BY RAMYA CHANDRASEKARAN
Did you know? Jane Austen’s birthday falls on December 16. Jane Austen's wit, wisdom and well-drawn characters continue to inspire film adaptations. Check out these South Asian adaptations of her well-known novels this holiday season!
Kandukondein Kandukondein
(Translation: I Have Found It)
2000, Directed by Rajiv Menon; Starring Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, Ajith, Mammooty, Abbas
Language: Tamil
This adaptation of Sense and Sensibility effortlessly imbues the story with Indian sensibilities, rooted in the cultural milieu of Tamil Nadu. Director Rajiv Menon captures the wit and the lingering sadness of the original novel.
A single mother and her three daughters live in their country estate. Sowmya and Meenakshi are sisters of marriageable age. They have different personalities and differing views on love and marriage. Sowmya, aka Elinor, considered ‘unlucky’ in life, attracts the attention of an aspiring film maker. Meenakshi, aka Marianne, attracts the love of the much older army veteran, Major Bala. Meenakshi, however, falls in love with Srikanth, a businessman and an aspiring politician who has a passion for poetry. Complications arise when they lose their place in the family home and need to fend for themselves.
Aishwarya Rai plays the artistic, impulsive, and passionate Meenakshi. Tabu, by contrast, is the stoic and practical Sowmya. Mammooty’s performance as the gruff mannered and soft hearted Major Bala received critical acclaim. The songs deserve a special mention for using colors and scenic locations to depict the inner world of the characters.
Available on YouTube and Amazon Prime
Bride and Prejudice
2004, Directed by Gurinder Chadha; Starring Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson, Alexis Bledel, Indira Verma, Anupam Kher, Nitin Ganatra
Language: Hindi/English
Loosely based on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, “Bride and Prejudice” is a refreshing musical take on a book that has been adapted time and again. An ambitious cast and crew comprising of talent from India, Britain and the U.S, transport the story across continents, making it a true multicultural experience.
Lalita Bakshi, aka Lizzie Bennet, is a young woman living in Amritsar, India with her father, her mother and three sisters. Mrs. Bakshi is determined to get her daughters married to respectable and wealthy men. Lalita is determined to marry a man of her own choosing, for love. She meets some hopeful suitors, the American William Darcy, a British traveler Johnny Wickham and an Indian settled in the U.S, Mr. Kohli. Confusion, misunderstanding, and heartbreak ensue. Does Lalita overcome her dislike for Darcy? Do they resolve misunderstandings and fall in love? While the end is predictable, the journey certainly isn’t!
Indian star, Aishwarya Rai, is aptly cast as the opinionated and intelligent Lalita. Martin Henderson plays an entitled and clueless Darcy. Nitin Ganatra is hilarious as the self-important Mr. Kohli. Gurinder Chadha blends various Bollywood elements in the Hollywood musical comedy format. This film is a kitschy, colorful, affectionate ode to Austen!
Available on YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Google Play
Aisha
2010, Directed by Rajshree Ojha; Starring Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Ira Dubey, Amrita Puri
Language: Hindi
Aisha is a slick-and-stylish adaptation of Emma by Rajshree Ojha. It is set in upper-class society of Delhi. It is also heavily inspired by another film adaptation, Clueless, which released in 1995. Aisha is a rich upper-class girl who believes she is perfectly suited for match making. Her upper-class lifestyle and matchmaking habits are criticized by her friend, Arjun, aka Knightley, who asks her to stop meddling in the lives of others. Aisha takes on a new friend from a small-town, Shefali, and tries to find a good match for her with disastrous results.
The film got mixed reviews for focusing on presentation and styling rather than plot or character development. Sonam Kapoor is effervescent and engaging as the shallow and good-hearted protagonist. Abhay Deol plays the strong and silent Arjun, who stands up to Aisha and for Aisha whenever necessary.
Available on Amazon Prime and Vudu
Zindagi Gulzar Hai
(Translation: Life is a Blossomed Garden)
2012, Directed by Sultana Siddiqui; Starring Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed
Language: Hindi/Urdu
This television drama from Pakistan is based on the novel of the same name by Umera Ahmed. This 26-episode drama is popular in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Many consider it an updated version of Pride and Prejudice set in contemporary Pakistan.
Kashaf and Zaroon are opposites in thought and financial status. Kashaf comes from a lower-middle-class family and lives with her mother and two younger sisters. Her mother is abandoned by her father because she did not give birth to a son. The family faces hardship as a result of his actions. Zaroon’s wealthy family consists of his mature father, independent working mother and sister. Zaroon seems to have an easy life on the outside but feels like an outsider in his own home. When they cross paths, their differences lead to a battle between them.
Available on YouTube and Netflix
