Basmati Blues | Rotten Tomatoes

Basmati Blues

Released Feb 9, 2018

1 hr. 46 min.

Musical

Comedy

Romance

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List

10%

29 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

When a young scientist learns she has unwittingly aided a destructive plan against the Indian farmers she was supposedly sent to help, she teams up with a local farmer to save the day.

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Critics Consensus

Like the genetically modified grain at the center of its story, Basmati Blues is probably best locked in storage and saved for cases of cinematic famine.

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Audience Member

Quite an interesting plot. Starts as a simple little journey to make sure things are okay and then you find yourself immersed in the love story and the things that people will do for money. It's a beautiful experience and reminds you that there are good people in the world despite the overwhelming amount of bad and that people can change things if they truly want to. It honestly made me feel good and want to contribute more to help the world. Yes, it's corny, but it's truly a breath of fresh air in the sad world we live in.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

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Audience Member

I only gave this film 5 stars because there weren't any more to give! I've seen nearly all Brie Larson's films & this one is EASILY my favorite! Just to hear her lovely singing voice is a real treat, and the simple yet charming "fish out of water" story line is thoroughly entertaining! Add to that a superb supporting cast, and you have a true gem of a film, sure to please the entire family!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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roy m

Why was this made? It's racist as hell. What a joke

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

This movie is undeniably extremely cheesy but it's very cute to watch if you want to sit down and just relax while enjoying the performances. Most of the songs are definitely unnecessary, but there are a few that are worth listening to more than once because the melodies are so sweet and the acting is so genuine is those scenes. Maybe if there was just one person or team writing the songs for the entire movie it'd be more enjoyable, but since multiple artists contribute different songs, there's no musical continuity. For people like me who enjoy fluff and fun (and the ability to make fun of oneself), it's worth the watch. Brie Larson and Utkarsh Ambudkar make the movie—their chemistry is lovely and I'd love to see them in another romcom together soon! I feel like this one gets bonus points for the main character being an independent woman who's extremely smart and genuine and also in STEM. Also, major bonus points for a biracial couple and the appreciation, rather than appropriation, of Indian culture (I'm assuming this is due to the fact that the behind the scenes crew consisted of people who are actually Indian, which is rare for a multicultural movie).

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Basmati Blues is a harmless movie with nothing offensive in it but it’s easily forgettable as a musical. None of the songs are very catchy and the whole movie feels like an American Bollywood movie. The plot is a bit cheesy as you would expect. It’s not a horrible movie it’s watchable and inoffensive just don’t expect the next big musical.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/09/20

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Audience Member

Whoever thinks this is a white savior movie hasn't seen it. A white girl gets schooled by an Indian agricultural student who promotes using holistic farming practices that are currently being used to reverse the damage that Monsanto et al have created in India. The Hindustan Times reviewer apparently didn't notice or recognize several highly respected Indian actors in the cast (Suhasini Mulay, Lakshmi Manchu, Bugs Bhargava Krishna) as well as a prominent playwright who was willing to commute several hours each way just to play the miniscule role of a tea vendor. I winced at the last musical number in which a white guy paternally announces that "Our Voices Will Be Heard," until I learned that that actor was actually extremely beloved by the cast and crew. Apparently, sometimes a white guy hugs the brown people he's singing with because he just likes them and enthusiastically embraces the message of organic farming and inclusive communities. Now if we want to ask why every single farmer was a man, why Suhasini Mulay had the most incredibly boring lines, and why there aren't any female stunt artists in that part of India... nah, I loved the movie. Great music, great cast, great tech crew, great message. Absolutely beautiful. The reviewers are the real heartbreakers in this little piece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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Dan Baron

Director

Brie Larson

Linda

Utkarsh Ambudkar

Rajit

Donald Sutherland

Gurgon

Scott Bakula

Eric

Tyne Daly

Evelyn

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Basmati Blues: Trailer 1

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Rex Reed

Observer

Basmati Blues is the kind of easily forgiven early career move that is best released on home video and forgotten.

Rated: 1/4

Feb 15, 2018

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Owen Gleiberman

Variety

"Basmati Blues" is one of those movies that isn't terrible but still leaves you wondering why it exists.

Feb 15, 2018

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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Basmati Blues isn't nearly as bad as some of the online buzz might indicate...and that's actually unfortunate. Instead of vying for a so-bad-it's-entertaining categorization, it falls squarely into the hell of cinematic mediocrity.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 15, 2018

Full Review

Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

I didn't know whether to be deeply offended or simply sit back and bask in the goofy, tone-deaf glory of Basmati Blues.

May 28, 2020

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Charlotte Harrison

VultureHound

I love Brie Larson. I love Donald Sutherland. I love musicals. I quite like rice. I don't like Basmati Blues.

Jan 28, 2020

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Kenneth R. Morefield

1More Film Blog

Basmati Blues isn't going to win any Oscars, but I finished the movie happier than when I started.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 25, 2019

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Synopsis

When a young scientist learns she has unwittingly aided a destructive plan against the Indian farmers she was supposedly sent to help, she teams up with a local farmer to save the day.

Director: Dan Baron
Executive Producer: Ruedi Gerber, Jeff Kleeman, Elliott Lester, Randy Paul
Screenwriter: Dan Baron, Jeff Dorchen
Distributor: Shout! Studios
Production Co: Basmati Blues
Genre: Musical, Comedy, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 9, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 9, 2018
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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