Hollywood staple meets Bollywood masala in the crossover film “Americanizing Shelley,” about an American boy (Brad Raider) and an Indian belle (Namrata Cooper) thrown by circumstance into each others’ arms.
Blending East and West, this romantic comedy takes place in Los Angeles and tells the story of a Hollywood agent who sets out to “Americanize” an Indian girl straight out of the Himalayas. During the “makeover” process, he falls for her and learns a lesson or two about life. The initial clash of cultures gives way to love, tolerance and a bridge between different worlds.
This feel-good comedy also includes performances from Beau Bridges (“The Fabulous Baker Boys”) and a cameo from Dr. Robert Ray (E! Entertainment’s “Dr. 90210”). Cooper, who also helped produce the film, displays a fine flair for comedy, and director Lorraine Senna of “Sopranos” fame rises to the challenge of telling a cross-cultural story.
We caught up with Cooper to ask her a few questions about the film:
Q: Is “Americanizing Shelley” a semiautobiographical film?
A: No, not in terms of the actual storyline — but definitely yes, in terms of intercultural playoffs. For example, one of the lines about “all white people sounding the same” came from an aunt who has lived here for years and still cannot comprehend the American accent to save her life.
Q: It’s refreshing to watch a “crossover” film which actually does cross over to mainstream and is not all about identity, and clash of cultures. There is a lot of humor in this film.
A: Most definitely, oftentimes people will say “Bend It like Beckham” was the first successful crossover film. I’d say it was the culmination of what started with the likes of “Mississippi Masala.” But now it’s time to go mainstream and come up with a product that is an “all to all,” because the strife of the ABCD [American-Born Confused Desi] life is cool to watch a couple of times, but then it gets stale. Unless fresh storylines are created to invite the rest of America into our films … we as South Asians will not go far as filmmakers.
The results of “Americanizing Shelley” are extremely gratifying. At pretty much every screening, the audience seemed to embrace the joy and fun of the film and is clearly enjoying the ride. That’s what it’s all about — pleasing your audience.
Q: Rumor has it that you did some major multi-tasking in this movie — you are not only the lead actress but also the producer of the film. Was it challenging to wear two hats on the same project?
A: Oh yes, I thought acting was tough until I started producing. Nothing could have prepared me for the kind of dedication and work it takes to get a film in the can and beyond. I have a brand-new respect for producers — particularly in the indie studio world where the challenges come at every stage of the game, be it getting funded in development or getting the right cast or finally securing distribution and, in all of this, the mother of all challenges: making a good film!
MOVIE NOTES:
Rating: PG
Run time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Language: English
Currently showing at Cinemark Century Berryessa, 1171 North Capitol Ave., San Jose
(408) 926 7091
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