The film opens in Amritsar, with a generic shot of lush green fields, comfortably at home in any Yash Chopra production. Then arrive the tourists, a pair of British-Indians, Balraj (Naveen Andrews) and Kiran (Indira Verma), for a friend's wedding. Not letting the photo-op go to waste, they drag along reticent Yank pal Will Darcy (Martin Henderson). The three go to the aforementioned wedding, and the boys (for they will be thus, inevitably) promptly fall in love at first sight.

Naveen Andrews has come to attend a marriage in the city. He lives in London, is rich and Indian and every mother in Amritsar with a marriageable daughter is eyeing him. He is here with his sister and best friend Martin Henderson, an American. The first time he (Naveen) lays eyes on Namrata he is smitten by her. And so is she.

Aishwarya, a girl who has a mind and does not hesitate to use it, starts off badly with Martin and uses everything he says and observes to make him seem arrogant and insensitive to all things Indian. Though he tries to explain she runs into the arms of the first man she meets, called Johnny, who just happens to be someone he has had a grudge with for years. This happens in Goa where the three visitors have gone for a break with Namrata and Aishwarya.

Practically the whole film has one celebration or the other. Bhangra, Garba, party dance, you name it and it is there. This of course means everyone dresses in finery, so there is plenty of colour and vibrancy, in fact too much of it. And when the whole town gets together to sing and dance when one girl is getting married you have to wonder if the junta of Amritsar have no work.

Bride And Prejudice, works, and works with great flair. As several Bollywood references are reverentially scattered through (watch out for a terrific Prem Chopra bit!) this pastiche, it traverses through a vividly documented India-made-accessible (My Big Fat Indian Wedding, anyone?) and the story of a Knight in vanilla armour thudding the dhol for his Lady.

The gorgeous Aishwarya Rai is awe-inspiring as Lalita Bakshi. With a competent director at the helm of affairs, Ash takes giant strides as an actor.

Daniel Gillies [as Johnny Wickham] is efficient in a role that has negative shades. Anupam Kher is competent, like always. Nadira Babbar is fantastic. She delivers, what can be rightly called, a topnotch performance. Nitin Ganatra [as Mr. Kohli] is another actor who brings a smile due to his crazy antics. Naveen Andrews, Namrata Shirodkar, Indira Varma, Sonali Kulkarni and Peeya Rai Choudhuri are adequate.

On the whole, BRIDE AND PREJUDICE rises to the occasion and delivers what it promises: laughter and entertainment.