American dreams, Indian soul.|Aug. 08, 1997|India|191 Min.|n/A
Genre: Bollywood;Drama;Romance
Description: Pardes (1997) is a Hindi film that explores the clash between Indian traditions and Western influences. The story revolves around Rajiv, the son of a wealthy NRI, Kishori Lal Sinha, who travels to India for an arranged marriage with Ganga Kashyap. Having grown up in the US, Rajiv is unfamiliar with Indian customs but is assisted by his foster brother, Arjun Sagar, who acts as a matchmaker and helps Rajiv and Ganga develop a bond.
After a brief courtship, Rajiv and Ganga get engaged and move to the US. However, Ganga struggles to adapt to the Westernized lifestyle of the Sinha family and feels isolated. She finds solace in Arjun, who provides her with emotional support. At a party, Ganga is shocked to witness Rajiv’s behavior—smoking, drinking, and flaunting his wealth. She later discovers his past relationships and confronts Arjun for concealing these details.
As Arjun becomes closer to Ganga, the Sinha family notices and sends him away on a business pretext. Rajiv and Ganga travel to Las Vegas, where he pressures her for a physical relationship. Ganga refuses, wanting to wait until marriage, but Rajiv disrespects her boundaries. In outrage, Ganga slaps him and discards her engagement ring. Rajiv’s aggression escalates, and he attempts to assault her, but she fights back and escapes.
The next day, Arjun finds Ganga distraught at a train station and accompanies her back to India. Upon their return, Ganga’s father, Suraj, accuses them of having an affair and locks her up. With the help of her friends and grandmother, Ganga realizes her feelings for Arjun and breaks free to find him. Meanwhile, Arjun is on his way to his village but is intercepted by Rajiv, who seeks revenge.
The film highlights themes of cultural conflict, love, and resilience, portraying the challenges faced by individuals caught between tradition and modernity.
Cast director: Subhash Ghai
Cast actor: Shah Rukh Khan, Amrish Puri, Mahima Chaudhry, Apurva Agnihotri, Padmavati Rao, Alok Nath, Himani Shivpuri, Madhuri Bhatia, Smita Jaykar, Prachi Save
Original name: परदेस