Chutney Popcorn (1999)

TOMATOMETER

83%

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Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

50%

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Movie Info

The push and pull of familial bonds and clashing cultures sets the stage for the comic drama Chutney Popcorn. Renna (Nisha Ganatra) is a young woman of Indian descent living in New York, where she works as both a photographer and a body artist who creates henna tattoos. Renna is also a lesbian, which does not please her mother, Meenu (Madhur Jaffrey), who prefers to dote on her more traditionally minded (and happily married) daughter Sarita (Sakina Jeffrey). One day, Renna gets some bad news from Sarita: While she and her husband have been trying to have a baby, her doctor has informed that her she is infertile and will never bear a child of her own. Renna volunteers to serve as surrogate mother for Sarita; she wants to help her sister and hopes this will smooth some of the rough spots in her relationship with her mother. But Renna starts to have second thoughts, as her lover Lisa (Jill Hennessy) feels left out of the loop, and Meenu thinks both Renna and Sarita are making a mistake. Nisha Ganatra co-wrote and directed Chutney Popcorn and also plays Renna; the film was enthusiastically received in its screening at the 1999 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.

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Cast

Nisha Ganatra
as Reena
Sakina Jaffrey
as Sarita
Jill Hennessy
as Lisa
Cara Buono
as Janis
Nick Chinlund
as Mitch
Eliza Foss
as Dr. Brendel
Madhur Jaffrey
as DDa
Priscilla Lopez
as Loretta
Alisa Mast
as Becca
Ajay Naidu
as Raju
Daniella Rich
as Tiffany
Cristal Chindamo
as Cristal
Elise Foss
as Dr. Brendel
Saylor Creswell
as Doctor
Sunita Mukhi
as Bhangra Auntie
Vinod Ganatra
as Visiting Auntie
Ajay Mehta
as Dr. Sud
Amy Veltman
as Jet
Sunita Mikhi
as Bhangra Auntie
Laura Dubrule
as Bi-phobia Dyke
Annalisa Robertson
as Co-dependent girlfriend
Monica Bhatia
as Wedding Girl
Destina Donovan
as Wedding Girl
Gabriella Voight
as Leila
M. Iqbal
as Paan Stand Owner
Caran Hartsfield
as East Village Club Flyer Girl
Dan Grey
as Tourist
Heather Parks
as Tourist
Margo Michaels
as Cheese Girl
Barbara Schofield
as Lamaze Instructor
Greg Kachejian
as Nurse
Andrew Maxwell Goldberg
as Reena's Baby
Jamila Jaffrey Wilkinson
as Reena's Baby
Jennifer Capriccio
as Henna Model
Missy Cohen
as Henna Model
Amy Gelper
as Henna Model
Kim Heinz
as Henna Model
Catherine McCarthy
as Henna Model
Leena Raichur
as Henna Model
Bhavani Rao
as Henna Model
Sarah Bhatia
as Wedding Guest
Hardeep Bhatia
as Wedding Guest
Harvinder Bhatia
as Wedding Guest
Channi Bhatia
as Wedding Guest
Jasbir Bhatia
as Wedding Guest
Brakash Bhatia
as Wedding Guest
Gagan Bhatia
as Wedding Guest
Lily Chung
as Wedding Guest
Charanpal Chawla
as Wedding Guest
Kim Epstein
as Wedding Guest
Jasbir Kaur
as Wedding Guest
Kasleen Kaur
as Wedding Guest
Satwant Malhotra
as Wedding Guest
Satya Malhotra
as Wedding Guest
DJ Rekha
as Wedding Guest
Karan Narang
as Wedding Guest
Stacey Rivera
as Wedding Guest
James H. Shana
as Wedding Guest
Nancy Shane
as Wedding Guest
Rosalie Shane
as Wedding Guest
Pavneet Singh
as Wedding Guest
Japneet Singh
as Wedding Guest
Jassu Sing
as Wedding Guest
Jason Singh
as Wedding Guest
Nimmi Singh
as Wedding Guest
Manjit Singh
as Wedding Guest
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Critic Reviews for Chutney Popcorn

All Critics (6) | Top Critics (1)

A funny, observant, and smart look at how differences in values can take place within one family.

Aug 21, 2001 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Aisle Seat

That really obvious Film School Feeling.

Aug 18, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Filmcritic.com
View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Chutney Popcorn

Fantastic movie by Nisha Ganatra!! Great story plot. Filled with a bit of hilarity, but intriguing story about Reena and her sister. Great cast! Phenomenal music!! Worth watching.

Leo L
Leo L

Super Reviewer

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Chutney Popcorn Quotes

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