Start the week with a film: ‘Loins of Punjab Presents’ hilariously spoofs Indian Americans
Manish Acharya’s debut feature can be rented from Apple TV+, YouTube Movies and Google Play.
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The premature death of Manish Acharya in 2010 robbed Indian cinema of an irreverent talent. Acharya, who was only 43 when he died in a horse-riding accident, left behind a sharp satire about aspirational Indian Americans to remember him by: Loins of Punjab Presents (2007).
Acharya’s only movie revolves around Desi Idol, a singing contest sponsored by a pork manufacturer (hence the title). Organised by Bokade (Jameel Khan) and his associate Mr White (Kunaal Roy Kapur), the competition takes place over a weekend in a hotel in New Jersey. Various contestants strain their vocal cords for the grand prize of $25,000.
The 86-minute movie, which is in English, can be rented from Apple TV+, YouTube Movies and Google Play. A fine cast of characters recreates New Jersey in Mumbai, which is apt, given that so many of the characters behave as though they never left the motherland.
Leading the ratings is the demure and well-behaved Preeti Patel (Ishita Sharma), who has arrived with her village-sized Gujarati family. The socialite Rrita (Shabana Azmi) wants to win at any cost, managing to overcome her disdain for her rivals by hatching one scheme after another.
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