Watch India Sweets and Spices

India Sweets and Spices is a heartwarming coming-of-age story that takes place in a small New Jersey town with a big Indian community. The film follows Alia Kapur (Sophia Ali), a college student who returns home for the summer and begins to uncover secrets and hidden drama within her tight-knit Indian community. Alia's parents, originally from India, own a successful real estate business in the town, but Alia feels like she doesn't quite fit in with the affluent and traditional South Asian community. She reconnects with Varun Sharma (Rish Shah), an old childhood friend who is now studying at Harvard and back in town for the summer. Alia's crush on him drives her to help his family's struggling business, a local Indian grocery store, where she is introduced to the seller, Lata Mehra (Manisha Koirala).

As Alia continues to work at the grocery store, she becomes more involved in the families of the business owners, learning about their secrets and hidden pasts, which is slowly unwrapped by the film as Alia's curiosity increases. From extramarital affairs to conflicting business relationships, the piece moves from one topic to another, all connected to the Indian immigrant community's vibe.

The storyline is excellently woven through the clues that are uncovered along the way, and the performances by all of the main cast are top-notch. Sophia Ali brings a brilliant portrayal of Alia's struggles and growth during a crucial turning point in her life. Rish Shah as Varun effortlessly channels his character's charm and intelligence, adding a depth to the plotline that keeps the audience wanting more. Manisha Koirala as Lata imparts a needed and relatable maturity to the story.

With a theme of homecoming and connection, the motion picture also balances an almost sitcom-like tone for most of its runtime with a few high-stakes emotional moments to challenge the characters' depth of emotion. The movie is bright, colorful, and visually appealing, with several warm-hued scenes that showcase Indian customs and 'small town' Americana.

Overall, India Sweets and Spices is a film worth watching if you're looking for a light-hearted and emotionally satisfying tale. Even if you don't come from an Indian background, the themes of family, identity, and community are universal, making it a must-watch for many cultures. It's an ideal indie film that resonates here in today's world of diversity appreciation, while still being relatable to many aspects of everyday living.

India Sweets and Spices is a 2021 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 57.