Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?

Ashwni Dhir's 2010 Indian comedy takes one idea as far as it will go. A distant relative turns up unannounced from a far-off village at the door of a comfortable young couple in Mumbai. The man introduces himself as the family's uncle, settles in and does not leave. All the humour comes from the hosts trying to get rid of him without breaking the rules of hospitality: they hint, they buy him tickets, they make plans, and they fail every time. Paresh Rawal's uncle is both insufferable and impossible to refuse outright, and the comic tension sits exactly there. The film directly addresses the mismatch between extended family expectations in India and nuclear family life in the city. The result is a comedy that does not strain its form but uses its idea well. Who it's for: viewers who like character comedy and Indian films about family relations. Who it's not for: anyone wanting a varied plot; the film stays on one situation.