Monsoon Wedding is a 2001 Hindi-language film directed by Mira Nair and written by Sabrina Dhawan. The film is set in Delhi, India, and follows the preparations and wedding festivities of a wealthy Punjabi family. The film is known for its realistic portrayal of Indian culture and its exploration of the complexities of relationships.
The story revolves around the arranged marriage of Aditi Verma (Vasundhara Das), who lives in Delhi with her extended family. Aditi has been living in the United States and is engaged to Hermant (Parvin Dabas), a successful engineer who is also of Indian descent. Aditi's father Lalit (Naseeruddin Shah) is struggling with the financial burden of the wedding, while her cousin Ria (Shefali Shah) is dealing with the aftermath of being sexually abused by a family friend.
The film also explores the relationships of other family members, including Lalit's brother-in-law Tej (Rajat Kapoor), who is having an affair with the family maid Alice (Tilotama Shome), and Ria's confidante and cousin Vikram (Dipak Pallana), who is struggling with his own identity.
The monsoon rains bring a sense of freshness and renewal to the story, and the wedding festivities provide a backdrop for the unfolding drama. As the different storylines intersect, the characters are forced to confront their own fears, desires, and complexities.
Monsoon Wedding was well-received by audiences and critics alike and won several awards, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The film is praised for its realistic portrayal of Indian families and for its exploration of complex human relationships.