The American dream is a coveted success story sought after by many and attained by very few. In Geetha’s (Indigo Sabharwal) case, those ideals are quickly going down the drain in a whirlwind of misfortune.
Geetha’s family, recent immigrants to the United States, has made every effort to integrate into society, but they encounter numerous obstacles at every step. Geetha’s meager salary at her local minimart can’t support the numerous bills her parents Ravi (Nikhil Kamkolkar) and Mira (Melanie Kiran) need to pay, while her cousins Veer (Justin David) and Adit (Talha Ehtasham) struggle at their construction job. Their home is also at risk of being upended, as their uptight landlady/neighbor has become increasingly hostile about the smell of curry emanating from their household. All that’s to say, the Sunshine State isn’t treating anyone well.
A comedy that taps into both Indian and American culture with ease, director Christa Boarini’s Curry Scent follows Geetha as she tries to keep her loved ones afloat by seeking out a rich husband. At long last, she gets her chance with Krishna (Anirudh Keshamouni), whose wealthy family quickly turns on his potential bride-to-be. Shunning Geetha’s social status and cultural roots, they are against welcoming her in, but Krishna’s brother Lush (Michael Macleod) expresses interest in Geetha. The film portrays this tale of opposites, values, and acceptance from both perspectives, making it a surprisingly sweet and engrossing case study.
The cast is enormous, with a lot of characters struggling to share screen time or stand out amidst the rapid-fire pacing of the plot. Sometimes it can feel like a made-for-TV sitcom with how certain roles are performed, but the plot itself remains entertaining all the way to the end. Sabharwal is the perfect lead you’d hope for in a romance-drama like this. Responsible and incredibly likeable, Geetha grapples with some very tangible issues, often finding herself questioning her choice between duty and free will. It’s quite a twist on the historically popular formula in which families seek out arranged marriages to further their standings. It’s a fun inverse of that in Curry Scent, with Geetha trying her best to get hitched and Krishna’s brother Lush wanting to tap into the less Americanized side of his identity. With some clever writing from Nisha Sabharwal, the overlaps between the two families lay the groundwork for a culture clash that’s entirely unique to the film.
Curry Scent does right by its offbeat love story, spicing things up with a soulful take on immigration and a colorful cast of relatable characters.
