The Perfect Husband Plot

A multi-generational Punjabi upper middle class family live in the suburbs of the 'planned' city of Chandigarh in northern India. The matriarch of the family Badi Mummy, 55, is obsessed with upholding traditional gender roles where the woman is subservient to the man. As head of the household she has struggled to keep her unconscious husband on life support systems for 14 years, since widowhood and the resultant loss of status is abhorrent to her. Badi mummy - or Grandmother -- has seen her older, meek son Sohan conventionally married to the submissive Cuckoo (with a hefty dowry), and her younger obedient 'sex starved' son Sanjeev to his pliant and rich wife Anu, after having seen and rejected 50 girls! for both. But she is unable to cope with the birth of yet another female grandchild when here are already two 'troublesome' females in the house. There is an unmarried daughter Uma - rejected by suitors for being an asthma sufferer, and her young rebellious granddaughter Jaya, who, initially at least refuses to wed because she resents the way men around her treat their women. When Uma, decides that marriage has no place in her life till she finds someone who she can "get along" with and Jaya talking of "a career and a love marriage" rejects Badi Mummy's choice of husband, (the "ardently in pursuit of Jaya", body builder, Ajay, who is obsessed with downloading pondi sites from his computer!!!) - the harried lady is driven to her limit. The arrival of William, a British houseguest (Considered unsuitable by badi mummy because he eats beef and doesn't have a bath everyday) who is attracted to Uma, and the attentions of a London returned , good-looking doctor (whose mother is a divorced drunkard!!! according to Badi mummy) towards Jaya, do nothing to calm her fears. The choice of Chandigarh as a location and the middle class circumstances in which the action of the film takes place, is in interesting contrast to the stereotyped backdrops of many Indian bollywood films. The clean, naturalistic filmmaking style, unobtrusive camerawork and modern soundtrack, whilst allowing plenty of opportunity to admire the glorious lushness of Indian traditions and ceremonies, provide a striking antidote to the cloying atmosphere that so often surrounds sub-continental 'romantic' films. Indeed, The Perfect Husband tackles many of the more unkind and difficult issues within Indian society, with refreshingly impressive depth, insight and intelligence. Yet the joy of love and familial affection shines through in this often amusing and always sensitive film.