She sees dead people. Not in the Sixth Sense way but on a totally different level.
It's a wonderful afterlife
u/a; romantic comedy
Dir: Gurinder Chadha
Cast: Shabana Azmi, Goldy Notay, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Sally Hawkins, Jimi Mistry, Sanjeev Bhaskaru00a0
**
What's it about: She sees dead people. Not in the Sixth Sense way but on a totally different level. Mrs Sethi's (Shabana) only worry is getting her fairly round daughter Roopi (Goldy) married. So much that she ends up killing those who reject the girl. The ghosts of her victims ask her to let them off purgatory by getting the girl married. Along comes a cop (Sendhil) who's is asked to court Roopi to find leads on the murders.
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What's hot: Nothing can ace the natural charm of Bend it like Beckham, but Chadha manages to lace her Afterlife with some genuinely warm moments. Shabana's act of a protective mother who refuses to acknowledge her daughter's weight issues will strike a chord with many. Sally excels as the phirang who tries to exorcise the Indian trapped inside her body by wearing jhumkas. The soundtrack is spectacularly fresh, especially the bhangra version of 'Stayin Alive'. Sendhil appeals even in a role that isn't fleshed out well. Goldy is earnest and likeable.
What's not: Indian curry and chicken tikka have become a part of the changing and accommodating culture of today's England. Even Shilpa Shetty owes her Big Brother victory to the chicken curry tussle that got her sympathy votes. But using food fights to evoke humour just doesn't work. There is so much food wasted in one particular scene (pappads flying like saucers, curry sloshed on heads) that it ends up being a mockery not a gag. After their introduction, the ghosts start losing their charm. We get the fact that it's a no brainer, but then Chadha seems confused whether to let go and risk it all or try and play safe. Shabana Azmi looks tired and hassled (so much for gaining weight), while Jimi is reduced to an extra. But worst of all, it's the lack of a good script that prevents this Afterlife from making a successful transition. The best moments are the gag reels where the cast and crew dance to Stayin' Alive played during the end credits. If only if we had so much fun while watching the film!
What to do: An engaging premise, but a weak script plays spoil sport in making this afterlife wonderful.
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