After the huge success of the My Big Fat Greek Wedding, it became okay to poke fun at your own ethnicity, mock the cultural specific lifestyles and in turn illuminate the hardships of immigrants to the wider world. Politically correct or not, the formula worked wonders. The result was sudden mushrooming of comical-satirical films in Bollywood that did just that. From Monsoon Wedding to "Slumdog Millionaire, the trend flourished, and put such multi-cultural Indian films on the map. Dr. Cabbie, a new film directed by Jean-Francois Pouliot, tells an immigrant's story in a style that is unique, comical and fresh. The director says, "Dr. Cabbie suffers no fear of revealing some of the quirks that Indian people often share. From the outset, the film sends us on a path that deletes political correctness, a path that sets the table for some refreshing and outright self-mockery. In order for that self-mockery to work, we will be attentive to details about the Indian culture, letting the audience know that the mockery is not the result of ignorance but the voice of an insider's point of view." Produced by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, Dr. Cabbie is an out and out comedy. But underneath the laugh-a-minute ride, the film takes on serious hot-button issues of integration of qualified immigrants and the acute shortage of doctors in Canada.
If that sounds abstract, let's clue you in to the film plot: Dr. Deepak Veer Chopra (Vinay Virmani) after getting a medical degree in New Delhi, lands in Toronto, Canada to work with his uncle Vijay (Rizwan Manji) in his restaurant called Korma Sutra. Vijay is not as rich and successful as he claimed, leaving Deepak frustrated with his newfound opportunity. Furthermore, Deepak cannot practice medicine because his medical degree is not recognized in Canada. He decides to drive cabs for a living and rents an apartment with a roommate named Tony (Kunal Nayyar). One night, Deepak and Tony drive pregnant, legal assistant-turned-coffee shop employee Natalie Wilkes (Adrianne Palicki) to the hospital. Deepak
calls I, MAL WO Willy IS kll1ClItly crow g. Armed with no more than his wits, medical knowledge and whatever he can find in his cab, Deepak delivers the baby. This gives Deepak an idea and he converts his taxi into a mobile clinic. Soon people begin to call with medical problems and make special requests for Deepak's taxi. He treats and heals his passengers for free. Soon, Deepak earns the title of Dr. Cabbie. Dr. Cabbie is a heart-warming comedy that chronicles the bumpy journey of Deepak on the streets of Toronto as he faces roadblocks, learns from his challenges and grows to discover his true purpose. Lead actor and writer Vinay Virmani had been toying with this story idea for years. In 2012, he decided to write the script along with Manu Chopin and Ron Kennell. Fresh from the twin successes of Starbuck and Breakaway, Ontario-based Firsttake Entertainment and Caramel Films (Quebec) joined hands yet again, and Dr. Cabbie was born.
The film was partly shot in New Delhi and partly in Canada. The entire cast had a blast shooting in Ontario and seemed like one happy family. Director Jean-Francois Pouliot says, "We are thrilled to have such a talented cast who will tell this humorous and heart warming story." He adds, "Dr. Cabbie is a timeless story that audiences will identify with, blending social issues and the journey to find in one's place n the world Vinay Virmani, who was born and raised in Toronto, was thrilled to see how everything was turning out, saying, "From what I wrote to how it's looking today, the film is a hundred times bigger and better and more beautiful than I could have ever imagined it." Talking about the story, he said
that it has a universal appeal. "Although it's a Canadian story, it applies to families and young individuals all over the world," he explained. Perhaps that's why the film has an international star cast too. "India's really buzzing as well," he continued. "We have one of the biggest stars in India, Mr. Salman Khan, who's now presenting the film. And that's what I mean that the film is a very universal story." Kunal Nayyar from the Big Bang Theory is among the international names. Nayyar plays a fellow cabbie. "He's the first friend that I make in Canada. He's nothing like my character Deepak. He's crass, he's loud, he's great with women, and I'm terrible with women in the film. But he teaches me how to loosen up," says the lead actor Vinay Virmani. Other international names include Adrianna Palicki from G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Lillette Dubey who recently acted in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Take a ride with Dr. Cabbie when it releases locally at September I 9th.
Release Date: Sept 19, 2014
Genre: Drama
Producer: Salman Khan Star
Cast: Vinay Virmani, Adrianne Palicki, Kunal Nayyar, Isabel Kaif, Mircea Monroe, Rizwan Manji, Lilette Dubey


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