Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

15 August

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Love finds a way in drawn-out Indian comedy; cursing.

Movie NR 2019 124 minutes
15 August Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • 15 August Movie: Scene #1
  • 15 August Movie: Scene #2

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

On 15 AUGUST, India's Independence Day, families and neighbors who share a rundown urban chawl, an Indian tenement, prepare for the traditional hoisting of the Indian flag. The festivities are accompanied by a visit from a local politician and a speech to express patriotism. Amid the preparations, Jui (Mrunmayee Deshpande), a modern young woman, balks at her parents' attempts to marry her off. The latest suitor is due to visit that day. He's a wealthy Indian-born man who lives lavishly in the United States but is looking for a traditional bride. Unfortunately, Jui is in love with Raju (Rahul Pethe), a young artist who doesn't have a job and is therefore unacceptable to her parents. They've been forbidden to see each other and although they are still in love, Jui scolds Raju for making nothing of himself in the years since they've known each other. When the suitor arrives with his parents, Jui is taken by his looks, humor, and acceptance of her situation. At the same time, a small boy gets his hand stuck in the flagpole hole in front of the tenement, and much of the plot revolves around efforts to extract his hand.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This Indian comedy isn't for everyone. There's a sweetness and innocence to 15 August that could be appealing, but the large cast of characters, jokes that only Indian audiences will understand, and two-hour-plus length make this a tough sell to American audiences. The comedy is broad, with pontificating know-it-all-neighbors, arguing parents, mischievous kids, and old guys whining about the way things used to be. When the boy's hand gets stuck in the hole, it's with a sinking feeling that one realizes the entire movie will be taken up with the mini-drama of getting that hand out.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the concept of arranged marriages. What do you think the reason for such arrangements might be?

  • Do you think Jui made the right decision when she weighed love for a poor man she already knew against the possibility of coming to love a nice new guy who has lots of money? Why or why not?

  • Based on watching the interactions in 15 August, what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of living in such close quarters with other families?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate