Bollywood For Americans: Bangalore Days/Bangalore Naatkal (Malayalam/Tamil)

Note: "Banglore Naatkal" is a remake of the original "Banglore Days". Why remake "Banglore Days" after just a year? Well, Naatkal is in Tamil, while Days was in Malayalam. So you can consider this more of an adaptation rather than a true remake. From what I can tell, the plot is basically identical, and even the styles/shots are very familiar.

The consensus view seems to be that the Malayalam original was better, but whatever. This isn't about the finer points of style, but rather the substance both share, and Naatkal is the one I saw.

This one is really enjoyable, because it exhibits an appealing demographic very lacking today in America: normal, happy young adult professionals. Optimistic, fun people ready to get on with life. No social media neurosis. No original sin of student loan debt. No "active shooter" office drills. The "old normal".

"Banglore" treats us to a charming coming-of-age in modernity tale. It's kind of like a more cinematic form of Friends, if the characters on Friends were actually friends instead of miserable codependent narcissists.

The plot isn't all that important, though it does contain a pretty deft twist. But overall, this isn't really a feature film in the American sense of the term. It's a bit more of an episodic view into the lives of three close cousins, Divya 'Ammu' Raghavan (Sri Divya), Kannan 'Kutty' (Bobby Simha) and Arjun 'Ajju' (Arya).

The three grew up in a provincial village, where they dreamed of a future life in Banglore, a "trending" city among Indian youth thanks to its IT scene and beautiful gardens. When they finally get there, they learn that their innocent dreams may have been somewhat simplistic, as they find themselves conflicted. Divya is in an unhappy arranged marriage, Kutty struggles to reconcile his traditionalist upbringing with urban morals, and Ajju remains a steadfast dropout, refusing to adopt a professional career or marriage.

To resolve their problems, the pretense of city life must yield to the closer bonds they once knew, rekindling the passion with which they set out for Bangalore and creating an ad hoc family capable of overcoming their urban isolation.

There's a lot in here particularly familiar to American Millenials, as the cousins are in conflict with unrealistic generational expectations. The dropout Ajju in particular rails against the soft tyranny of parental questions:

'What are you going to do with your life?' 'When are you going to marry her?' 'When will you find a job?' 'How long since your last promotion?' 'When is she going to get pregnant?' 'What school are the kids attending?' It goes on and on, and you will never escape expectations.

The solution? Never abandon the organic relations of blood and community for the abstractions of status and office. If there is anything so great about the proverbial move to Bangalore, you shouldn't have to sell your soul for it.

PS: This film also has a subplot involving a romance that begins on-air during a radio talk-show. We haven't been treated to such an innocent, charming plot-line in America since 1993, and Sleepless in Seattle. The 90s are now elsewhere.

Final Word: Yuppie, there is a better way...