Four Samosas is 2022’s best comedy. Writer-director Ravi Kapoor's second feature is hysterical, heartfelt, and beautiful to look at. His script and direction are nearly flawless. The cast is pitch-perfect and brimming with promising young talent viewers probably haven’t seen yet, and the result is a crisp comedy with no excess. Though the film is in English, the representation of Indian culture is unlike the average movie seen by American audiences — in the best way possible. Four Samosas bottles youth, love, and Little India into a superb movie-going experience.
Vinny (Venk Potula) spends his days wandering Los Angeles’ Little India with his family and friends. He has a job working at a fabric store, but his true passions are rapping and his ex-girlfriend Rina (Summer Bishil). The only problem is that everyone knows that except him. His friend Zak (Nirvan Patnaik) also has big dreams of being a Bollywood star, but works at a family restaurant. With the help of Zak’s crush Anjali (Sharmita Bhattacharya) and local “engineer” Paru (Sonal Shah), Vinny concocts a plan — rob Rina’s dad of his illegal diamonds — to make all their dreams come true.
The first thing that jumps out about Four Samosas is the Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel) influence. From jumpsuits straight out of The Royal Tenenbaums to Anderson's unmistakable shooting style, the similarities are clear as day. But Four Samosas is paying homage while still doing its own thing. The color palette is reminiscent of Anderson’s films, but the frame is populated with gorgeous Indian outfits with eye-grabbing detail. The script and tone are similar as well, but Four Samosas is neither pretentious nor aiming for the cheap seats. The comedy is universal and offers continuous, and huge, laughs while never giving up an inch of its integrity.
The heart of Four Samosas is its cast. There are simply no bad performances and, paired with Kapoor’s script, the two go together like two peas in a pod. Potula (Veep) is the plot's engine, but the supporting cast solidifies the film as one that is truly special. Potula’s parents, portrayed by Meera Simhan (New Girl) and Kapoor, have about five scenes between the two of them, and they steal every second. The same is true for the entire cast. The ensemble has no weaknesses and their collective energy is a marvel.
Kapoor's vision of Little India is as refreshing as his cast. The community is fully explored as the main character walks everywhere. Four Samosas has a single scene that takes place in a car and that small decision, whether intentional or done for budgeting reasons, changes the complexion of the film. A lot of jokes come from characters walking around this neighborhood that is practically never rendered onscreen in U.S. films. Shots that show just how large the Indian American community is are bathed in California sun and Kapoor’s eye really comes into focus in scenes at parks, baseball fields and people's homes. Oftentimes when one thinks of Chinatown or Little Italy, it is focused on the shops and businesses. But Four Samosas reminds audiences that people live and enjoy life in these same places. Whether one has visited or not, Four Samosas will make viewers want to learn about and explore this cultural gem.
Four Samosas is hilarious, well-made, and wraps its arms around the audience with warmth and humor from the first scene. The comparison to Wes Anderson can neither be denied nor considered a hindrance to the film's execution. Everything from the costumes to the cast is a natural and confident representation of Indian American culture. Kapoor’s next turn behind the camera will truly be something to look forward to.