It’s A Wonderful Afterlife

It’s A Wonderful Afterlife is an eagerly predictable “romantic comedy” from Gurinder Chadha, global award-winning director of box office hits like Bhaji on the Beach, Bend It like Beckham and Bride & Prejudice. The story is about an Indian-Punjabi mother, Mrs. Sethi comically obsessed with marrying her plump daughter. Mrs. Sethi, a widow, cannot stand the thought of her only daughter living on her own and unhappy. Mrs. Sethi’s role is played by Shabana Azmi. Her daughter is plump and opinionated…but according to her mother she would make a great wife, if only she were given a chance. It is when Mrs. Sethi cannot tolerate the rejections by families for her daughter that she steps up and takes all the responsibility in her own hands.

The problem worsens when a police hunt begins for her, who is a serial murderer who cooks a killer curry. Mrs Sethi then faces the spirits of her victims who come back to trouble her as they are not capable to be reincarnated until their killer dies, making Mrs Sethi guilty of her mistakes. She even gets ready to be killed by them, as she will be able to meet her dead husband. The only trouble is that she wants her beloved daughter to be happily married. The ghosts understand that helping Mrs Sethi’s daughter locate an appropriate husband before the police grab hold of her is their single possibility for a wonderful afterlife. This then leads to a big bloody wedding and a witty banquet!