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Simran (Simmy) is a beautiful Punjabi girl who is a perfect birth-chart match for British born miscreant Raj. Convinced she will bring good luck to the family and mend his good-for-nothing ways, Raj's family arrange a wedding with Simmy's parents and the innocent country girl soon finds herself brough to England at the Bedi household in Kent, isolated from her family and with little command of the language. But even before the honeymoon can begin, Simmy's new husband escapes through the bathroom window and leaves his new bride to the mercy of her new in-laws, led by overbearing matriarch, Gurbaksh. With her passport confiscated and not allowed to leave the house, Simmy is kept a virtual prisoner, serving the household and looking after grandad until the husband she hardly knows returns. As the month's go by, only the friendship she strikes up with thoroughly westernised brother-in-law Harpal (Harry) makes life bearable. Slowly her command of English improves and she becomes a valuable member of the family even without the errant Raj. Gurbaksh eventually agrees to release Simmy if Raj does not return by Deewali, then goes off in search off her errant son who has been spotted in Bradford. Will Raj come back? Will Gurbaksh keep her promise if he does not? With the aunty mafia hot on the case, whatever will become of Simmy?
By the same writer who brought us "The Deranged Marriage", this story takes over where the previous one left off, looking at the aftermath of an arranged marriage and the tribulations of an imported Indian bride suddenly thrust into the middle of a dysfunctional English-Indian family.
The story revolves around dutiful daughter Simmy who, accepting her parents wishes, is married to a man she barely knows only to be abandoned by him in a country that is completely foreign to her - not that she is allowed to see any of it. Isolated from her own family, she has to try to adapt and fit in with a new family with strange customs whilst waiting for the return of a husband who she later observes the Police know better than she does! Vineeta Risha, as Simmy, gives an incredibly sophiscated performance as the innocent Indian country girl adjusting to western ways. Along the way she becomes a breath of fresh air for her new family, showing them, Harry in particular, how to combine the best of both cultures, "toda (a little) English, toda Indian" - like her baked beans masalla. Handsome love interest Harry, Rik Makeram, meanwhile, is a young man westernised to the extent of rejecting his native culture, insisting he is English, not Punjabi, until Simmy shows him that it is possible to be both - and embrace his Englishness without rejecting his heritage. Harvey Virdi as Gurbaksh, is the dedicated, hardworking mother trying desperately to hold the family together. Her only failing is her obsession with reforming her deviant son Raj, despite the fact that all he has ever done is steal from her, which prevents her from seeing the extent to which she is alienating her other children.
This is a story that is instantly accessible to all, whatever their origins, east or west, delivering it's message through the universal medium of comedy. The 'aunty mafia', nosey, two-faced, interfering haridans, are hilarious in their constant meddling, especially the running gag of aunty Bimla with, seemingly, a typer of tourette's that causes her to shout out the truth behinf every little lie. The obligatory slice of Bollywood song and dance also fits in seamlessly without appearing trite or kitsch - a real treat in fact. Indeed, the sense of celebration that typifies permeates throughout and really draws you in until you feel a part of the family. Crucially, whilst it pokes fun at the Asian way of life, it never disrespects it, and I sensed more than the odd sly dig at the absurdities of western stereotypes of Asian culture. To quote Simmy "You take piss!".
The set for this high quality production consists of an open frame representing the Bedi household, with steps to an upper level on the right. Behind this is a row of house front, typical of council houses across the UK, from the upper windows of which the binocular equipped aunties keep a close watch on what is going on. With dialogue that frequently lapses into Punjabu, an electronic display board aboves the stage provides English translations for the non-Punjabi speakers in the largely Asian audience.
Another excellent and aptly titled offering from Pravesh Kumar and Rifco Arts, you can't help but agree that there really is 'Something about Simmy'.