Watch Mango Souffle

Mango Souffle is a romantic dramedy released in 2002. The film has been directed by Mahesh Dattani and stars Rinke Khanna, Darius Taraporewal, and Veena Sajnani in the lead roles. Being a bold and flamboyant movie, Mango Souffle was way ahead of its time, as it revolved around homosexuality, which was a taboo topic back then. The story is set in Mumbai, where a small group of friends meet for a drink or two in the evenings. One of the members of this group is the protagonist, Indra, played by Darius Taraporewal. He is a carefree, good-looking guy who works in advertising. However, Indra is gay, and this causes problems with his family and friends, who do not approve of his lifestyle. His best friend, Farhad, played by Samir Soni, is the only one who knows about Indra's sexual orientation and accepts him as he is.

Rinke Khanna plays Kitty, a young and pretty girl who catches Indra's eye. Indra falls in love with her, leading to hilarious situations where he tries to pursue her while juggling his love life with his gay partner, Hamid, played by Rinku Patel. With Kitty being keen on pursuing a relationship with Indra, Indra has to decide whether he can continue leading a double life or come out to his friends and family and lose everything he has.

Veena Sajnani plays Jupiter, a feminist who stands up for her friends' rights and is vocal about her sexuality. Together with the rest of the group, she tries to help Indra come out of the closet, but their attempts only lead to chaos.

The plot of Mango Souffle is a mix of humor, drama, and romance, with the film balancing all three elements remarkably well. The dialogues are witty and piercing, harsh and yet funny, and the story spins around beautifully.

The visuals are bright and colorful, capturing the essence of Mumbai city, which is seemingly bustling and teeming with life. The movie has several songs that are catchy and fun, adding to the overall light-hearted atmosphere of the film.

One of the most significant aspects of Mango Souffle is the way it handles the topic of homosexuality. Back in 2002, the LGBTQ+ rights movement was still in its early days. There was a lot of stigma attached to homosexuality, and it was considered taboo. In this movie, though, the director manages to handle the issue sensitively while still keeping the depiction real and relatable.

The performances in Mango Souffle are impressive across the board. Darius Taraporewal shines in the lead role of Indra, portraying a range of emotions, from humor to heartache, poignantly. Rinke Khanna is charming as Kitty, and her chemistry with Taraporewal is endearing. Veena Sajnani adds a punch to each scene she's in, and Samir Soni is convincing as the straight male friend who, despite Indra's sexuality, stands by him.

Overall, Mango Souffle is a refreshing, light-hearted movie that deals with serious issues. It has an endearing story with a heart that celebrates friendship, love, and acceptance. This movie proves that love can find itself in the most unexpected places, and it's all about being true to yourself. Despite facing backlash and criticism during its release, Mango Souffle is now widely appreciated for being among the first few Indian movies that portray homosexuality in a positive and empowering light.

Mango Souffle is a 2002 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5.