Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Too-sweet, naïve Bollywood-style musical has some romance.
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Basmati Blues
What's the Story?
In BASMATI BLUES, scientist Linda (Brie Larson) has invented a new kind of super rice. With the help of corporation Mogil -- run by CEO Gurgon (Donald Sutherland) -- her rice is about to launch in a big way. But it turns out the company's salesman rubbed the locals in India the wrong way, jeopardizing the whole thing. So Gurgon selects wide-eyed, innocent Linda to go sort everything out. There, she meets Rajit (Utkarsh Ambudkar), who briefly studied agriculture in college but was forced to leave school due to lack of funds. Though he's attracted to Linda, Rajit clashes with her over his more organic views on rice growing. She also meets William (Saahil Sehgal), a well-dressed corporate shill for Gurgon; he, too, falls for Linda's charms. But what Linda doesn't know is that once the farmers sign their Mogil contracts, they'll be obligated to buy new seeds every year. Can Rajit convince Linda of the truth in time? And can he win her heart?
Is It Any Good?
This attempt at an American-style Bollywood musical is earnest at best and sappy, naïve, and overly sweet at worst. It does have lively moments, but it mainly inspires aggravation and eye-rolling. Basmati Blues was apparently shelved for several years, only resurfacing because of Larson's growing fame; it's one of those cases in which an actor might wish they could erase the past. Yes, Larson is charming and can carry a tune -- a musical number set in a nightclub is a brief, joyful highlight -- but Linda is so easily fooled and pushed around that it's difficult to believe she's a brilliant scientist.
The songs are instantly forgettable, and it's frankly embarrassing when Sutherland and Tyne Daly are asked to step in and sing a villainous tune. As for the Indian characters, it's difficult to view them as authentic; they seem filtered through the Westernized views of uninformed tourists. (The locals and farmers are portrayed as pure, exotic, and life-loving.) It's great, of course, to have a movie that frowns on corporate greed and the preference for profit over the good of the people, but Basmati Blues is just so ridiculous. When the bad guys try to escape via a train, it just makes you wonder where it all went wrong.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Basmati Blues' main character. Is she a strong role model? Is she allowed to be independent? Does she make decisions on her own? Is she easily persuaded or dissuaded by men?
What does the movie have to say about corporations? Which real-life corporations can you think of that do care about their customers?
How does the movie depict sex and romance? How does it compare to other movies you've seen in that respect?
Does the movie depict Indian characters fairly? Are they positive representations? Are they realistic representations?
How does the movie work as a musical? What's the appeal of musicals?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 9, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : April 3, 2018
- Cast : Brie Larson , Donald Sutherland , Utkarsh Ambudkar
- Director : Dan Baron
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Shout! Factory
- Genre : Musical
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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