Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya will be seen as a kung-fu-fighting sisters trying to
evade a hasty marriage arranged for them.
Nida Manzoor’s directorial debut, Polite Society focuses on the strong bond that two sisters and
how they are tested by time when one of them agrees for an arranged marriage. The only way to
save Lena, the elder sister from a lifetime of remorse, is for the younger sister, Ria, to learn some
kung-fu fighting. The British comedy premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It
has some very funny moments as Ria tries to save her family with the help of her friends.
Priya Kansara has beautifully portrayed the character of Ria who wants nothing more than to be a
stuntwomen. She pursues her idol, Hollywood stunt double Eunice Huthart, hoping to work with
him. Her family is doubtful and skeptical about her future but her best friends and her sister are
completely support her and encourage her to pursue what she loves to do.
Things take a drastic turn with the entrance of a smarmy billionaire Salim Shah (played by
Akshay khanna) who is dating Lena. Within a few weeks the two are engaged, whereas Ria
suspects something fishy in this situation. She tries her best to break off the alliance, even going
to the lengths of breaking into Salim’s house to dig up some dirt about him and his mother,
Raheela. All of this chaos comes to an end at the very end of the movie in a comical way. There
are a few snags that are dealt with in a hilarious
way.
At the end, the big reveal of why Salim chose Lena to be his wife was a bit of a let down and
unconvincing to the audience. Lena’s character is so less developed than Ria’s. It is the weakest
part of an otherwise enjoyable movie. The sharp and witty dialogues of Kansara and her earnest
performance is what worked for the film and drives the movie forward. Bollywood fans are sure
to love the musical nods to all their beloved songs and familiar tunes. Kansara has played the role
to her best and has convinced the audience as a young teenager, and just like any other teenager,
her overactive imagination always gets the better of her in every situation. The others of her age
could relate well to this character.
Polite Society is a modern coming-of-age movie that slides between high-school, family comedy-
drama, heist thriller. Kansara diving down a complex with self-assurance and confidence of an actor twice her age, Polite Society stands on its own as an enchanting and delightful genre remix
and as a sizzle reel for Manzoor, Arya, and Kansara. It is a story that is set in the previous
generation in a British South Asian milieu. Its a high-octane, genre-smashing debut feature of
Manzoor.