Indians in South Asian Movies and DDLJ

Compared to South Asian portrayals in American shows, South Asian portrayals in Indian shows are pretty different. Since South Asians understand their own traditions and customs, their portrayal of their own people are more accurate and non stereotypical than American movies. However, they depict non-resident Indians, or NRIs, as caricatures or villians, people who have lost connection to their culture and traditions. For example, the film, Pardes (1997), manifests the “corrupting influence of American society” in the antagonist’s lifestyle of cigarettes, alcohol, unfaithfulness and disregard of others. In contrast, the protagonists holds onto his Indian values and does not go against his elders and respects women. In addition, one character who has a love of his Indian culture breaks out into a song literally called “I Love My India” (2:34-2:45). This shows how important culture and custom is in India and it is portrayed strongly by South Asians.

Another movie made by South Asians is the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, a popular film about first generation British Indians who fall in love. The female protagonist, Simran, promises her father that she would marry a family friend, arranged by her father and his friend, and follow Indian values after going on a European tour with her friends (Amazon prime DDLJ 28:00-28:16). Due to some complications from meeting Raj, the male protagonist, she ends up being stuck in Europe with him, eventually falling in love with him during their time together in Europe. This resulted to her father selling the house and moving to India for her to marry the family friend right away after overhearing her conversation with her mother about Raj. The movie portrays Simran as a non-resident Indian, who does not follow the traditions of her parents who immigrated to London from India due to wanting a love marriage instead of an arranged marriage. Aside from catching feelings for someone outside of an arranged marriage, the characters in the movie, mostly Raj, do other acts outside of Indian values such as drinking, partying, disrespecting elders, (Amazon prime DDLJ 24:20-24:30) and talking about girls in a way that would not be acceptable in Indian culture.

-Mimi