MohdAnsar

It's often a bit of a worry when a Bollywood film has a British element to it. More often than not, the English cast appear to be made up of passers-by who wandered onto the set; their voices inexplicably dubbed by Australians, invariably playing old relics delivering patronising spiel about empire.

Fortunately, that's not the case with Namastey London, which boasts convincing performances from its British actors as well as its Indian cast. Combined with strong production and a fun story, Namastey London is an entertaining, unpretentious example of Brit-Asian cinema.

Jasmeet 'Jazz' Singh (Kaif) is a British-born Asian with little connection to the land of her parents or the Indian suitors they try to set her up with during a surreptitious trip to India. When father Manmohan Singh (Kapoor) sets his sights on Punjabi-born and bred Arjun (Kumar) Jazz can see no way out.

The marriage happens in traditional Punjabi style, but on returning to the UK, Jazz refuses to acknowledge it, pointing out that in the eyes of the British legal system, the union is null and void. She proceeds with her plan to marry three-times divorced Lothario Charlie Brown (Standon). Meanwhile, Arjun must find a way to win back the woman he calls his wife, before she marries another.

With an Indian-British crew, the filmmakers capture the best of East and West in this portrayal of cultural difference. Kashmir, the Taj Mahal and the images of rural Punjab encapsulate the natural beauty of India, while the 30-odd UK locations serve as stunning backdrops.

These locations are integral to the story, reflecting the disparate worlds the protagonists hail from, but there's no sense here of watching a travelogue courtesy of The British Tourist Board, as if often the case. Apart from a shameless plug for Western Union Money Transfer, everything is built around the story.

Akshay Kumar displays his broad emotional range in what could have been an otherwise familiar portrayal of a Punjabi boy with heart. Katrina Kaif demonstrates good comic timing, playing the flirtatious Jazz to the hilt, and all the cast benefit from some witty one-liners and in-jokes. A relative newcomer to the industry, Brit-Asian Upen Patel makes his presence keenly felt in a significant role and holds his own in the prescence of more experienced actors.

Javed Sheikh and Rishi Kapoor spar well together. There is some doubt though as to the casting of Nina Wadia. While she brings a comic element to proceedings, and draws on her 15 years of acting experience to provide the emotional quotient where necessary, her character extends to little more than the long-suffering wife and mother. Wadia also falls victim to the curse of bad dubbing and the suggestion that she could be old enough to pass as Rishi Kapoor's wife is a little galling.

Song sequences are well integrated and effectively shot, and while the distinctive musical style and sound of Himesh Reshammiya is a perennial favourite, it can get a little repetitive.

There is some element of cliche in the story of parents berating their fate for siring Westernised, wayward offspring determined to marry unsuitable suitors, but the didactic element is toned down so that the focus remains on the story and the dilemmas faced by its characters.