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Parents' Guide to

Monsoon Wedding

By Teresa Talerico, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Poignant Indian tale of family, love, and culture.

Movie R 2002 114 minutes
Monsoon Wedding Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

age 6+

skip lots of parts when watching with younger kids

This title has:

Too much sex
Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Director Mira Nair's tale of family, love, and culture in India is a joy to experience. You're riveted from the moment the infectious Bollywood-esque music booms over the opening credits to the wildly romantic and satisfying conclusion. The film explores Indian culture and how characters both preserve that culture and shake it up. It also reveals contrasts: modern and traditional, young and old, rich and poor, East and West, appearance and reality.

Alice and Dubey's moments together are awkward and sweet, while Dubey's interactions with his workers provide much of the film's comic relief. These characters also serve as a contrast to the wealthier family that employs them. The way Aditi's father handles the dark family secret shows the fierce loyalty that binds this family and drives its story. And, of course, romance and love bloom throughout, as vibrant and delicate as the marigolds that brighten the film's landscape.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: February 22, 2002
  • On DVD or streaming: September 24, 2002
  • Cast: Lillete Dubey , Naseeruddin Shah , Shefali Shetty
  • Director: Mira Nair
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors, Indian/South Asian actors
  • Studio: Universal Pictures
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 114 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: language, including some sex-related dialogue.
  • Last updated: October 14, 2022

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