<p>A musical adaptation of 'Monsoon Wedding' starting Thursday in Qatar had to remove alcohol and kissing, but the hit film's director Mira Nair insists it has not lost its "soul".</p>

<p>One of the biggest made-in-India international hits, the 2001 film recounts the chaotic preparations for the Delhi wedding of an Indian girl to an Indian-American man.</p>

<p>The musical version of 'Monsoon Wedding' has already played in Berkeley, California.</p>

<p>But just as its plot exposes cultural clashes when an extended Indian family comes together, bringing an adapted version to Qatar on the margins of the football World Cup has also meant some upheaval.</p>

<p>"With respect to Qatari society, we have made some adjustments that are superficial because we do not mean to offend anyone," Nair told AFP in an interview ahead of opening night.</p>

<p>Alcohol is largely banned and public displays of affection are also forbidden, leaving viewers in Islamic Qatar without some elements of a typical Punjabi celebration.</p>

<p>"But at the core, what you are seeing in the musical is what it is," the award-winning director said. "The soul is there. I will not touch the soul."</p>


A musical adaptation of 'Monsoon Wedding' starting Thursday in Qatar had to remove alcohol and kissing, but the hit film's director Mira Nair insists it has not lost its "soul".

A musical adaptation of 'Monsoon Wedding' starting Thursday in Qatar had to remove alcohol and kissing, but the hit film's director Mira Nair insists it has not lost its "soul". One of the biggest made-in-India international hits, the 2001 film recounts the chaotic preparations for the Delhi wedding of an Indian girl to an Indian-American man. The musical version of 'Monsoon Wedding' has already played in Berkeley, California. But just as its plot exposes cultural clashes when an extended Indian family comes together, bringing an adapted version to Qatar on the margins of the football World Cup has also meant some upheaval. "With respect to Qatari society, we have made some adjustments that are superficial because we do not mean to offend anyone," Nair told AFP in an interview ahead of opening night. Alcohol is largely banned and public displays of affection are also forbidden, leaving viewers in Islamic Qatar without some elements of a typical Punjabi celebration. "But at the core, what you are seeing in the musical is what it is," the award-winning director said. "The soul is there. I will not touch the soul."

'Monsoon Wedding' musical drops alcohol, kissing for Qatar run

<p>Are you looking forward to relax in the comfort of your homes this weekend? Here&#39;s a lineup of five movies you can watch for free on YouTube to treat the cinephile in you:</p>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">Monsoon Wedding</h2>

<p>This 15-year-old English movie from India seems just as fresh as it did when it first hit the theatres. Directed by Mira Nair and written by Sabrina Dhawan, the film stars Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shah, Vasundhara Das, Vijay Raaz, Tillotama Shome and Ram Kapoor. This crazy wedding movie, set in the backdrop of an extravagant Punjabi wedding, has won many international awards including the British Independent Film Award for Best Foreign Language Film.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wvB-dokfP2Y" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</h2>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">Amu</h2>

<p>Directed by Shonali Bose, Amu is a critically-acclaimed movie about cultural shock and social adaptation. The film which released in 2005 captures the journey and experience of a 21-year-old Indian American woman who goes back to India after spending 18 years in US. Amu stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Brinda Karat, and Ankur Khanna.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RAGgBMVDdYk" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</h2>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">The General</h2>

<p>The 1926 American film stars Buster Keaton who also co-directed it with Clyde Bruckman. The silent comedy movie wasn&#39;t well received at the time of its release. However, it is now considered as one of the greatest films ever made by critics. The General is a perfect weekend watch for fans of Charlie Chaplin!</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1b24wqhy0Zo" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</h2>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">Metropolis</h2>

<p>German filmmaker Fritz Lang&#39;s sci-fi epic &#39;Metropolis&#39; is set in a futuristic urban background where the working class is exploited by the wealthy industrialists. The movie starring Alfred Abel, Brigitte Helm, Gustav Fr&ouml;hlich and Rudolf Klein-Rogge is a technical marvel.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E1kxfiY_1DA" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</h2>

<h2 style="font-style:italic;">The World According to Monsanto</h2>

<p>French journalist and doucmentary filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin&#39;s documentary is based on his three-year-long investigation into an agricultural technology company (an American MNC) called &#39;Monsanto&#39;. The film was originally released as &#39;Le monde selon Monsanto&#39; in French.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N6_DbVdVo-k" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>(Contributions by Ashna Mishra)</p>


Treat the cinephile in you over the weekend with these movies

Are you looking forward to relax in the comfort of your homes this weekend? Here's a lineup of five movies you can watch for free on YouTube to treat the cinephile in you: Monsoon Wedding This 15-year-old English movie from India seems just as fresh as it did when it first hit the theatres. Directed by Mira Nair and written by Sabrina Dhawan, the film stars Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shah, Vasundhara Das, Vijay Raaz, Tillotama Shome and Ram Kapoor. This crazy wedding movie, set in the backdrop of an extravagant Punjabi wedding, has won many international awards including the British Independent Film Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Amu Directed by Shonali Bose, Amu is a critically-acclaimed movie about cultural shock and social adaptation. The film which released in 2005 captures the journey and experience of a 21-year-old Indian American woman who goes back to India after spending 18 years in US. Amu stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Brinda Karat, and Ankur Khanna. The General The 1926 American film stars Buster Keaton who also co-directed it with Clyde Bruckman. The silent comedy movie wasn't well received at the time of its release. However, it is now considered as one of the greatest films ever made by critics. The General is a perfect weekend watch for fans of Charlie Chaplin! Metropolis German filmmaker Fritz Lang's sci-fi epic 'Metropolis' is set in a futuristic urban background where the working class is exploited by the wealthy industrialists. The movie starring Alfred Abel, Brigitte Helm, Gustav Fröhlich and Rudolf Klein-Rogge is a technical marvel. The World According to Monsanto French journalist and doucmentary filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin's documentary is based on his three-year-long investigation into an agricultural technology company (an American MNC) called 'Monsanto'. The film was originally released as 'Le monde selon Monsanto' in French. (Contributions by Ashna Mishra)

Weekend watch: Five films you can watch for free on YouTube

monsoon-wedding

Monsoon Wedding, News on Monsoon Wedding, stories on Monsoon Wedding, articles on Monsoon Wedding, Monsoon Wedding stories at Wion, Monsoon Wedding news, Monsoon Wedding latest news

monsoon wedding

'Monsoon Wedding' musical drops alcohol, kissing for Qatar run

Weekend watch: Five films you can watch for free on YouTube