Well, you know what they say...Bollywood meets Jane Austen

 

"No life without wife."

At least that's what they say in "Bride and Prejudice," in which the stunning Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stars as the female lead, Lalita.  The movie is a Bollywood spinoff on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and while it does follow closely to the original storyline, it differs in its culture and setting.

Instead of being set in early 19th century England as Pride and Prejudice is, "Bride and Prejudice" takes place almost 200 years later--and in India.  Cultured and well-bred Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice becomes the free-spirited and beautiful Lalita, and the characters of Elizabeth's three sisters all undergo similar transformations.  Energetic and cheerful Mr. Bingley becomes Balraj, and fanatic Catholic Mr. Collins becomes nerdy and socially-awkward Mr. Kohli. While cold and seemingly emotionless Mr. Darcy keeps his original name in his character adaptation, he goes from being wealthy Englishman and owner of the grand Pemberley to a wealthy and successful owner of a Los Angeles hotel chain. And finally, my favorite transformation of all: Mr. Wickham goes from being something of a playboy and a scumbag to being even more of a playboy and a scumbag.

 One of the themes in both the movie and the book is that of the desires of wealthy single men to marry an eligible young woman.  Jane Austen expresses this idea very eloquently at the opening of her book: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."  "Bride and Prejudice" simplifies this: "No life without wife."

I encourage all Pride and Prejudice fans out there to watch the Bollywood adaptation.  You are sure to get a lot of laughs out of that one.