Gay rom-com ‘A Nice Indian Boy’ receives critical acclaim

Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff’s upcoming gay romantic comedy, ‘A Nice Indian Boy,’ has garnered universal critical acclaim.

Premiering earlier this year at SXSW, the film impressed critics with Collider describing it as a “queer love story that surpasses some of the heteronormative narratives released on streaming platforms recently.”

Led by Soni, famous for his role as Dopinder in the Deadpool series, ‘A Nice Indian Boy’ centres on the “socially-reserved doctor Naveen, who introduces his fiancé Jay”–played by Looking star Jonathan Groff–“to his traditional family.”

Variety notes that Naveen’s family must “navigate accepting his white-orphan-artist boyfriend while assisting in planning their dream Indian wedding.”

With a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics have praised the film’s humour, the performances of Soni and Groff, and its fresh representation of the LGBTQ+ community in India, according to ‘Gay Times’.

Mashable described it as “a riotous, moving queer romantic comedy with a uniquely wild premise. Although resembling many modern third-culture narratives, it expands in unexpected ways that reflect and refract personal and cinematic identity.”

IndieWire highlighted how ‘A Nice Indian Boy’ “defies expectations while following a traditional love story structure,” and Cinema Daily US appreciated its depiction of “the specifics of one culture in a way that satisfies those familiar with it and reminds others of their own heritage and traditions.”

While Roger Ebert criticised the film for its “disappointingly sitcom-ish” structure and visuals, they commended director Roshan Sethi and writer Eric Randall for their “obvious and contagious” affection for the characters.

‘A Nice Indian Boy’ will screen in the UK at the London BFI Film Festival, with a theatrical release anticipated in early 2025.