Bride and Prejudice (2004)

64% of critics liked it
(131 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(77,910 ratings)

The very British sensibilities of Jane Austen are introduced to the exotic flavors of the Bollywood musical in this romantic comedy with songs from the director of Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha. Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai) is the lovely and eligible daughter of her socially ambitious… More The very British sensibilities of Jane Austen are introduced to the exotic flavors of the Bollywood musical in this romantic comedy with songs from the director of Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha. Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai) is the lovely and eligible daughter of her socially ambitious mother and father (Nadira Babbar and Anupam Kher). Mother and father want to be sure that Lalita, the most beautiful of their four daughters, settles down with a man worthy of her, but she has proven resistant to matchmaking, announcing that she will choose her own husband, and will choose him for love. While mother is keen on the profoundly annoying Kholi (Nitin Chandra Ganatra), Lalita has had her head turned by a handsome vagabond from England, Johnny Wickham (Daniel Gilles). But while attending the wedding of a friend, Lalita meets Will Darcy (Martin Henderson), a college buddy of family friend Raj (Naveen Andrews) who is the son of a wealthy hotel magnate. Lalita finds that Will makes a strong impression on her -- she can't stand him, but she also can't get him out of her mind. Will feels the same way about her, and as they inadvertently chase one another over three continents, will morbid fascination grow into true love? Bride and Prejudice marked the first English-speaking role for Aishwarya Rai, who had firmly established herself as India's leading female star when this film was made. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Gurinder Chadha
Written By: Paul Mayeda Berges
Genres: Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 11, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jul 5, 2005
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Jessica Winter, Village Voice
Every so often, the unseen managers of the galaxy bestow on us mere mortals a vision of rare incongruous beauty: a solar eclipse, a streaking comet, a shooting star, Bollywood goddess Aishwarya Rai happily riding a tractor.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By the time two newlywed couples lumber toward their honeymoons atop bejeweled elephants, the movie's frothy excess and good humor can make you say 'I do,' too.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
Who would have guessed that transposing the Bennet family of Netherfield Park in 1790s Britain to a middle-class home in contemporary Amritsar, India would require so little forcing?
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
If you're not giggling or tapping your feet or swaying back and forth in your seat during this one, have someone check your pulse.
Leah McLaren, Globe and Mail
What is silly about Bride is also what makes it special. That and its leading lady, the luminous Aishwarya Rai.
Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic
For those who love this kind of stuff, it's pure popcorn pleasure.
CT Staff, Christianity Today
If you want a wacky multicultural pairing to make you laugh a lot and learn a little, head for the movie theater playing Bride & Prejudice.
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
full review in Greek
Stina Chyn, Film Threat
... a funny, festive, genre-bending adaptation of Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Michael Dequina, Film Threat
Frothy, feel-good fun.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Austen goes to Bollywood.
Michael Szymanski, Wordmag.com
The Austen story is a true delight...
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
Do we really need more adaptations of Pride & Prejudice?
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
Or, how to use only the worst parts of three different genres.
Jonathan Moy, CinemaBlend.com
A cross-cultural buffet table with open invitations for everyone.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...anyone going into this film knows pretty much what it's going to be about, how it's going to end, what it will look like, and what to expect. There are no surprises.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas B

Yeah just no. Full review later.
Anthony L

I'm not a huge fan of Bollywood films (I've seen quite a few, back in the late 90's they used to show them at about midnight on channel 4, I had insomnia back then and used to watch them as there was nothing else on) neither am I a big fan of Jane Austen but I gave it a… More
I'm not a huge fan of Bollywood films (I've seen quite a few, back in the late 90's they used to show them at about midnight on channel 4, I had insomnia back then and used to watch them as there was nothing else on) neither am I a big fan of Jane Austen but I gave it a go anyway. I didn't like it. Gurinder Chadha was a good director, Bhaji on the Beach was a brilliant British/Indian film but nowadays she seems more interested in making money by churning out soul-less crap like this. It's a complete mess. The editing is dodgy, the direction is shakey, there is no character development, the acting wooden (Martin Henderson is a cardboard cut-out) and no amount of bright colours can make up for that and for a musical the music was pretty poor too! Don't get me started on the stereotypes. Avoid.
Dean M

Really great comedy of presently Jane Austen story in Bollywood. The first time I ever watched part of fantasy and musical in Indian version that looks cool since 1940 to 1980s American musical movies. Oh gee... Indian goddess superstar, Aishwarya Rai, looks really beautiful.
jay n

interesting twist on familiar story should have had stronger male leads.
Sophie B

i just love all the music and dancing!
Sanjaya &

Bad adaptation from 'Pride & Prejudice'
Kalel J

A colourful coreography of life with a bollywood spin on Jane Austin.
Dannielle A

Since I am familiar with "Pride and Prejudice" I already knew what was going to happen in this one but it was still fun seeing the spectacle. My favorite parts were the dancing and the songs "Punjabi Wedding Song," and "Marriage Has Come To Town" but… More
Since I am familiar with "Pride and Prejudice" I already knew what was going to happen in this one but it was still fun seeing the spectacle. My favorite parts were the dancing and the songs "Punjabi Wedding Song," and "Marriage Has Come To Town" but especially "No Life Without Wife" because it's soooo funny! I love the lyrics "I just want a man who gives some back , who talks to me and not my rack"!
Deb S

Sweet!
Buddy A

I've always had a strange affinity for "Bollywood" pictures. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this musical take on Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." All of the traditional elements are here (save the language; it's one of the few good… More
I've always had a strange affinity for "Bollywood" pictures. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this musical take on Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." All of the traditional elements are here (save the language; it's one of the few good "Bollywood" movies that's entirely in English, and works just as well as it does in Hindi); large-scale dance numbers (one of which reportedly took six full days to shoot!), the likes of which even Busby Berkley could never have imagined, a "guest star" singer (in this case, Ashanti) with which the rest of the cast never interacts, clever comedy, and (of course) color, color, color! But fans of the Austen novel can rejoice; even though the story has been adapted to the times and the genre, all of the essential themes are here (as are most of the characters, who are given similar Indian names, such as "Lalita" for Lizzy, "Kholi" for Mr. Collins, "Jaya" for Jane, etc.). The result is a match made in cinema heaven. If you love "Bollywood" films, grand musicals, colorful cinematography, intricate love stories (though it's too bad that Indian taboo prevents us from seeing anybody kiss), the beautiful Aishwarya Rai, or would just like to see the actor who plays Sayid on "Lost" sing and dance (both of which he does very well, actually), then I can fully recommend this film.
Sunil J

Didn't care for it the first time around but I enjoyed it the second time.
Sarah B

I'd have thought watching Hollywood musicals where actors spontaneously burst into song and dance routines would have prepared me for a Bollywood style, however Westernised, film. How wrong was I? There is basically no plot, even when based on an Austen classic, there is no… More
I'd have thought watching Hollywood musicals where actors spontaneously burst into song and dance routines would have prepared me for a Bollywood style, however Westernised, film. How wrong was I? There is basically no plot, even when based on an Austen classic, there is no characterisation, even with Darcy and Elizabeth as templates and there is no direction whatsoever, even from the director of Bend It Like Beckham. Loving seeing Lost's Naveen Andrews in a film like this though... The stars are for him.
Marion R

I felt an emotional disconnection with the characters, and the songs were forgettable.
Donna D

Pretty colorful movie, and musical, based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. A fun movie to watch if you loved the direction of Gurinder Chadha.
Leo L

Great movie! Great music.
John M

An Indian musical to Pride and Prejudice. Colorful, enternaining and funny.
Kevin M

I'm not a fan of the 'musicals' genre, but watching a worthwhile former beauty queen act is rewarding in this ensemble. The greasy Investment banker from LA reminds me of every single one of my brown investment banker friends from TO. (I'm Punjabi, yet I… More
I'm not a fan of the 'musicals' genre, but watching a worthwhile former beauty queen act is rewarding in this ensemble. The greasy Investment banker from LA reminds me of every single one of my brown investment banker friends from TO. (I'm Punjabi, yet I don't eat as sloppily)