Seven Movies to Watch Before You Visit India
#1 Outsourced (the movie, not the series), available on Netflix and Amazon. PG-13 for some sexual content
A comical, and surprisingly accurate portrayal of culture shock and adjustment for westerners landing in India. Watch for cultural cues, things to do and not to do, and the high role of honor in this society. Ready yourself for some enjoyable light-hearted laughs and the color, chaos and confusion of this foreign land. A fun movie for the whole family. I require everyone going on a short-term trip to India with me to watch it. (I recommend fast-forwarding the one bedroom scene if you’re watching this with your family, otherwise the rest of the movie is clean enough for the whole family).
#2 Gandhi (the 1982 version with Ben Kingsley), available on Amazon.
PG, some violent content but we had our children watch this before moving to India
A serious, in-depth look at the India from before, and the India that exists today. Only recently independent a little more than seventy years ago, you will gain an appreciation for India’s quest for freedom and one of its greatest heros. Plan for an evening of deep thinking, intense action and stirring dialog. This is a MUST WATCH if you’re praying for or doing anything involving India.
#3 The Hundred-Foot Journey, available on Amazon. PG, a wholesome family movie
An endearing, beautiful movie (it’s one of MY top ten favoritie movies of all) that explores the clash of east meets west in a character-driven story. A typical Indian family immigrates to France to start a new life and a new restaurant—one hundred feet from a classy French woman’s Michelin-star restaurant. Anyone who is welcoming foreigners into your own country will love the dialog and their journey to “walk across the street” to enter each others worlds in heart-warming ways. We’ve probably watched this a dozen times as a family and EVERYONE in our family loves it. You’ll probably want to go eat some Indian foot after this one.
#4 Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, available on Amazon. PG-13 for sexual content **
A whimsical look into the business life, personal dreams, and view of love in India through the eyes of westerners who move there to retire. Watch for cultural adjustment tips, underlying value systems, and the way westerners are viewed in India. A great date night movie. ** Spoiler and disclaimer: one of the residents is a non-practicing gay and you will get a glimpse of India culture’s view of homosexuality. Also, you’ll see India cultures struggle with love and arranged marriage and traditional verses liberal views of sex and marriage. This is not a family movie because of the sexual content.
#5 Water, available on Amazon. PG-13 for disturbing social injustices. Subtitled.
A serious and compelling look into the depths of Indian society for women, widows, and children. A moving story with masterful cinematography and direction. You will notice deep Hindu world views that permeate society and why some things are the way they are in India. Plan to watch this alone when you have time to watch it a second time right in a row (yes, I just HAD to, it was so complex)—and make sure you’ve got a box of kleenex nearby. This is not for children.
#6 Million Dollar Arm, PG great for a family night
A fun look at both a westerner landing in India and navigating the cultural chaos and color as a sports enthusiast looks for cricket players who he could turn into baseball players in America in an “American Idol-type” search. The second half grows into another fun look at how traditional India meets the western world when three young men are dropped into the limelight of American society. It’s fun, sweet, and a great movie to watch WITH your friends who are living in your own country from India.
#7 Lagaan, available for free on YouTube, PG. Subtitled.
A lengthy 3-hour movie full of Bollywood dancing, cricket and politics. You will learn many things about Indian culture, family dynamics, caste, history and entertainment while watching. While the story-line may be a bit longggggg and drawn out for most westerners, pay attention to many subtleties of culture because this movie is made in India by Indians, not by westerners.
Do you have other favorite movies about India? I'd love to hear your favorite and why you like it.
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