A Nice Indian Boy

I learned about this film from social media a few months ago after a film festival, so I decided to watch it on opening weekend. I expected a cute, but maybe not particularly interesting rom-com, with a dash of the immigrant family wackiness of so many comedic films. Paying for this movie ticket was the best investment in mental health of the past six months, and I'm delighted to say this movie is nearly perfect. The script is very good, based on a play that I later learned is loved by the U. S. South Asian community. The direction is simply stellar and allows the excellent writing and inspired performances to breathe and reach the audience. The delineation of the script into clear parts, each of which (in some sense) represent the typical act structures of films is clever, especially because in many ways the conflicts and resolutions happen in unexpected places within that structure. I loved the performances by the romantic couple, and the family, which is in many ways the "entity" one half of the romantic couple has to win over, and the entity the other half of the couple must be won by, if that makes any sense. For queer immigrants, or queer children of immigrants from cultures that cultural researchers call collectivist and family-centered, this film will speak loudly and make them feel seen and understood. There are some very special moments between each member of the family and the members of the romantic couple, and in some ways, the audience. In my screening, one particular speech by one family member had the whole room sniffling in suppressed tears. The best part is that all the touching parts of the film are elegant, not schmaltzy or cheesy, and they are well-balanced with hilarious moments and clever humor. The characters could have been caricatures and stereotypes, and the film revels in preventing that, creating fully realized people whose behavior and feelings are explained by motivations and experiences that are not immediately evident. Congratulations to the whole production team, cast, and everyone involved. Thank you for such a beautiful film!

A Nice Indian Boy surprised me with how genuinely heartfelt and grounded it felt. The film doesn't try too hard-it just lets its characters breathe, and in doing so, it creates something tender and relatable.

The story strikes a delicate balance between cultural tradition and personal identity without feeling heavy-handed. What really stood out was the sincerity of the performances-there's warmth, humor, and real emotional depth, especially in the quieter moments.

It's a film about love, yes, but also about family, expectations, and the messy, beautiful process of learning how to be true to yourself. I appreciated that it didn't wrap everything up too neatly, yet still left me with a sense of hope.

Not every beat is perfect, and some scenes could've been tighter or more dynamic-but overall, it's a story that stays with you in a gentle, meaningful way.

Bottom line: Thoughtful, well-acted, and quietly moving. Definitely worth watching.

"A Nice Indian Boy" is the warm hug of a film we didn't know we desperately needed.

It's tender, hilarious, and deeply heartfelt - a love story that doesn't just center queerness, but roots it in culture, tradition, and family in a way that feels authentic rather than tokenized. Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff have electric chemistry, the kind that sneaks up on you and suddenly has you grinning like a fool by the third act.

The script is sharp without trying too hard, blending laugh-out-loud moments with quiet emotional punches that land right in the chest. And let's talk about the parents - nuanced, endearing, and refreshingly real. No cardboard villains here, just humans trying to make sense of a rapidly changing world.

In a time when representation still feels like a checkbox for most studios, A Nice Indian Boy feels like a film made with genuine love - love for its characters, love for its culture, and love for queer people trying to carve out space in the mess of tradition and identity.

Final verdict: A total gem. Add it to your must-watch list immediately. Then rewatch it with your mom.

What a relief to watch a queer romcom that doesn't focus specifically on coming out. At this 2025 film's outset, the parents of the main protagonist Naveen, a competent albeit socially awkward doctor, have already accepted his identity as a gay man. The challenge is that being raised in a traditional Indian family doesn't allow any latitude for open discussions of feelings much less topics like dating, relationships, or marriage. Enter Jay, a white photographer who was raised by Indian parents, and their blossoming romance hits a major snag in Naveen's inability to share anything significant about Jay to his parents. This is where Roshan Sethi's fluid, unexpected direction and Eric Randall's smart screenplay make welcome swerves into uncomfortable territory about social and cultural acceptance and unspoken familial estrangement. The cast is extremely likable starting with Karan Soni as the constantly befuddled Naveen. He has genuine chemistry with Jonathan Groff whose natural charm as Jay feeds effectively into his open-hearted character, even though his role felt somewhat underwritten. As Naveen's parents, stand-up comic Zarna Garg and deadpan Harish Patel almost steal the film with funny, heartfelt performances that pull at the heartstrings late in the film. Peter S. Kim provides welcome comic relief as Naveen's flamboyant colleague Paul, and Sunita Mani brings a nice sharpness to Naveen's resentful sister Arundhathi. Even with obvious echoes of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", the climactic wedding scene culminates into a well executed catharsis that had me genuinely teary-eyed. Highly recommended.

This movie will probably grow in cult status as the perfect Indian gay rom-com. From perfect beats from longing and insecurity, to meeting the one, to dealing with the rigidities of South Asian culture in a humorous, compassionate, and yet authentic way this movie has touched my heart. The two gay leads are fantastic. And the family is perfectly cast, including the angry face of the jealous sister! This movie is the fantasy of many gay men - to be loved, to be accepted, and to be celebrated just as we are. Add to this the poignancy of Indian and Pakistani men who deal with cultural prejudice to homosexuality, which is addressed and silenced directly in this movie, and you have a rom-com standout. Go see it. It will touch your heart, no matter what your sexuality or ethnicity is. 💚