Rating: 
Summary: Startlingly Sensitive and Funny
Review: For unknown reasons, I could hear in my head the vindictive (and hopefully fictional!) voice of a fundamentalist preacher condemning the "unnatural acts of sinful love" of this film's main characters. In actuality, this is a movie about the true meanings in contemporary America of "love," "family," and "culture," and it grapples admirably with the changing social and personal-relationship patterns brought about by modern notions of democracy and freedom. Lisa and Reena are truly in love, and their families truly love them as well; but how are all these individuals to deal with Reena's choice to carry to term the baby she is producing through artificial insemination (using her brother-in-law's sperm)? Reena's sister has decided that she no longer WANTS a baby (she herself, biologically, cannot provide the egg for the child-to-be); however, Reena has decided SHE wants the baby, while Reena's female lover doesn't wish to become part of a "traditional" nuclear family. The moral dilemmas here are both comic and real, absurd yet earnest, and the film explores all sides of its issues with grace and poise and humor. I'm astonished at the clever blocking of the film (such clever tricks for a low-budget effort!), such as when Reena is shown in half-profile before a mirror, or when Lisa falls off the sofa. This is a highly satisfying piece of cinema which I discovered purely by accident among the sale tapes at my local Blockbuster. I look forward to more films by this original, brave, and highly intelligent director. CHUTNEY POPCORN reminds me of WHATEVER in its sensitive telling of a young woman's story in a complex world bearing no resemblance to anything which has come before in human history. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent film
Review: Ganatra did a brilliant job with this film--the characters are funny, touching, and believable, and the timing of her humor is right on. I've seen the film several times and have enjoyed it more each time. In fact, I thought the characters and the issues were so believable and real that I had my parents watch the film--both of them loved it and my father can't stop talking about it. It really hit home for him. I highly recommend it--the film is a lot of fun, and it's great to learn a little more about the director and the actors from the DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Great Work
Review: Ganatra did a fantastic job of blending comedy and drama. Also, great acting, music and timing. a must see!
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible movie in every way!
Review: How is a lesbian of color in New York City going to have close to no friends of color?! This movie is way too white-washed to be believable. It just re-enforces myths that gays and lesbians of color are just honorary white people. When there are great works out there like "Fire" and "Tongues Untied", this movie was garbage to me. I am a worse-off person for ever having seen it.
Rating: 
Summary: I WANTED to like this movie
Review: I bought this DVD with high hopes; it boasted an impressive cast and appeared to have high production values. Unfortunately, the director seems to lack any concept of comedic timing. Every plot element is derivative. For example--gosh, not only do we have to deal with being gay, but we've got these cultural differences to overcome! The majority of the cast delivered their lines as if the story was as uninspired as it is. I was willing to forgive so much to enjoy this film. Unfortunately, the terrible comedic pacing and predictable plot made this impossible. The director seemed to know that conflict drives the plot. However, conflict without viewer tension is ineffective. Maybe I have seen too many movies, but there was never a time when I did not know what was going to happen or how the conflict would be resolved. Good cast, mediocre script, terrible direction.
Rating:
Summary: ...not bad for a lesbian movie
Review: i saw this film at the Oslo gay and lesbian Film festival 2001. For one I'm abit sceptical to American movies, and then it being a movie on lesbians...but I really loved it (as they say in America)!
Rating:
Summary: Just that much more spice...
Review: In the stereotypical Indian mother who refuses to accept the fact that her daughter is a lesbian and continues to refer to her daughter's lover (Jill Hennessey delivering an excellent performance!) as her 'college roommate,' "Chutney Popcorn" finds a touch of humor, stark reality and soul. Reena (Nisha Ganatra directing herself) is a photographer with a penchant for temporary mehndi tattoos, lives with Lisa whom she loves dearly, has a newly wed sister, and is plunged into a situation she quickly loses control over. What is particularly brilliant about this film is the evolution of characters as the movie progresses, exquisitely offset by the humdrum of life, given how the developing plot is always inadvertently eavesdropped on by the neighborhood paan-seller. The film deals with some serious issues without ever becoming a discourse on values and morals; "Chutney Popcorn" never looses touch of the obvious reality and the subtle innate humor of the situation; a truly exceptional, and beautiful film.
Rating: 
Summary: Jill Hennesey is great in this quirky flic
Review: Jill Hennessey made this along with many other indy flicks between her stint on Law and Order and Crossing Jordan. I see a lot of Jordan in her character her- she is tough and guarded, yet needs friends and affirmation, hot headed yet caring.
Her lover is played subtly and with a light touch. I liked this lesbian movie- caught it on Showtime as one of their gay theme film specials. Works as a love story and a relationship movie- period. The fact that it is between 2 women is beside the point- the issues that face this couple are age old and handled well with a nice cultural flavor not seen too often in American cinema. For my fav Indian/American romance check out Mississippi Masala with Denzil Washington.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad - and not hard to look at
Review: Just saw the movie yesterday with some girlfriends - and I thought it was pretty good. Let's face it; as far as lesbian movies are concerned, there aren't many Oscar contenders out there, and I'm willing to take a pretty good movie when one comes along. This one was a pretty good movie!
So a few scenes are choppy, the audio is a bit rough in places, and the soundtrack is typical lesbian coffee house/bookstore acoustic guitar... it's an Indie, not a blockbuster. All in all it's not bad at all if you're just looking for pleasing cinema. If you're looking for Camille, keep looking.
Kudos to the filmmaker for following through with it! Bravo!'
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.
The black & white images of women wearing mendhi were beautiful, as were all the scenes depicting the careful applications of mendhi... how sensual is that? Please! I loved it! Watching her decorate her lover was very sexy. The two leads were great, and played off of each other well, and the mother & sister were fantastic - and are actually mother and daughter in real life.
The dialogue left a little to be desired, but there's some law written somewhere that dialogue in lesbian movies HAS to be horrible, so it wasn't a huge disappointment.
If you liked Rose Troche's "Go Fish" you'll love this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Chutney Popcorn is simply a delight!
Review: Nisha Ganatra's new film, "Chutney Popcorn," is a delightful mix of culture clashes, sibling rivalry, and good, old-fashioned dyke drama played out in modern day New York. Multi-talented Ganatra (writer, producer and director) stars as "Reena," very much the black sheep of the family, not only due to her vocation (she's a photographer), but also because of her lesbianism. Her newlywed sibling, Sarita, played by Sakina Jeffrey), finds out she is infertile and that's when the games begin! Entangled in the fertility games is Reena's commitment-phobic girlfriend, Lisa (Crossing Jordan's Jill Hennessy), Sarita's husband, Mitch, and the girls' mother, an ever-meddlesome, traditional Indian woman. Momma is horrified when Reena decides to step up to the plate and offer herself as a surrogate for Mitch's sperm, Lisa feels the commitment rope tightening around her throat at the announcement, and Sarita begins to have second doubts about the baby. The ensuing tale is a delight as Reena and Lisa begin the "turkey baster" ritual, and the cast of characters decide to share their infinite wisdom regarding a dyke bringing a child into the world. Scene after scene is filled with belly laughs, especially after one poignant "turkey baster" moment between Reena and Lisa. Of course, any lesbian movie worth its salt must have a few moments of dyke drama, and "Chutney Popcorn" doesn't disappoint. It's only a matter of time before Sarita really has a problem with her dyke sister giving birth to her husband's child, and Lisa feels the burden of a baby is entirely too much for her. Add in pressure from Momma to "get a husband," backlash from her politically-correct dyke friends and her own journey of self-awareness as the baby grows, and you have a melting pot of emotion, laughter and tears. "Chutney Popcorn" not only brings a good laugh, but it also opens our eyes to dilemmas that lesbians face everyday in regards to vocation choices, relationship decisions, and familial dynamics. You'll leave the film with a smile on your face, and thoughts to ponder. Ganatra has hit a home run with this one. -OutLook Press
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