Ball & Chain (2004)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Shiraz Jafri

Writer:

Thomas Mortimer (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 May 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Can't arrange the love? Arrange the wedding!

Plot:

Saima is a second-generation East Indian-American, living in Austin, Texas, along with her dad, mom...

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Love | South Asian | Arranged Marriage | Indo Pak

Cast

Sunil Malhotra	...	Ameet
Lisa Ray	...	Saima
Purva Bedi	...	Ruby
Kal Penn	...	Bobby
Asrani	...	Saima's dad
Ismail Bashey	...	Ashol
Johnny Kastl	...	Monty
Ather Ali	...	Dev
Brea Cola	...	Angela
Subash Kundanmal	...	Ameet's Dad
Noor Shic	...	Ameet's mom
Ulka Amin	...	Saima's mom
Shaan Puri	...	Deepy
Susan Aguirre	...	Fashion Show Organizer
Tiffany Lynn Drucker	...	Fashion Show Announcer (as Tiffany Drucker)
Christina Colmenero	...	Girl in Fashion Show #1
Brio Yaipan	...	Girl in Fashion Show #2 (as Brio Tiapan)
Joel Reynosa	...	Bobby's Dad
Indira Vishnu	...	Bobby's mom
Sadu Bajekal	...	Ruby's Dad
Anuradha Naimpally	...	Ruby's mom
Brian Johnson	...	Guy in Library #1
Morganna Thomas	...	Girl in Truck
Ami Thakkar	...	Waitress in Club
Joe Litzinger	...	Waiter in Club #1
Josh Taylor	...	Guy in Library #2
Tod Campbell	...	Bartender
Gianina Garner	...	Girl in Bar
Chris Crumbliss	...	Waiter in Restaurant #1
Matt Stromquist	...	Waiter in Restaurant #2
Mohammad Ahmed	...	Sheelin
Sudeep Burman	...	Ali
Krishnan Varier	...	Raj
David S. Peter	...	Punam
Soham Mehta	...	Sonny
Michael Tuba Heatherton	...	Random Suitor
Melissa Karlson	...	Ashol's Eye Candy
Chris Stanley	...	Waiter in Restaurant #3
Moise Abam	...	Cab Driver
Brian Franklin	...	Technician
Indu Patel	...	Saima's maternal grandma
Chrissy	...	Elephant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael E. Harvey	...	Bowling Alley Patron (uncredited)
Rajiv Patel	...	Wedding Attendent / Indian Family Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Shiraz Jafri

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Thomas Mortimer		screenplay

Produced by
A.V.T. Shankardass	....	producer
Jérôme Solia	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Deane Ogden

Cinematography by
Peter Simonite

Film Editing by
Luis Caffesse
Cliff Wildman

Production Design by
John Frick

Set Decoration by
Gabriella Villarreal

Costume Design by
Meredith Moseley

Makeup Department
Meg Brennan	....	hair assistant
Meg Brennan	....	makeup assistant
Catherine Conrad	....	hair assistant
Catherine Conrad	....	hair stylist: second unit
Catherine Conrad	....	makeup artist: second unit
Catherine Conrad	....	makeup assistant
Diane Hardin	....	additional hair stylist: second unit
Diane Hardin	....	additional makeup artist: second unit
Stacy Lande	....	hair stylist
Stacy Lande	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Will Santa Cruz	....	post-production supervisor
Morganna Thomas	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bobby Bastarache	....	first assistant director
Bobby Bastarache	....	first assistant director: second unit
Meg Beatty	....	second assistant director
Tod Campbell	....	second assistant director: second unit
Tod Campbell	....	second second assistant director
Sandhya Shardanand	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Chris Stanley	....	director: additional unit

Art Department
Amy Bell	....	property master
Brian Bradley	....	assistant to production designer
Brian Bradley	....	set dresser
April Crump	....	set dresser
Sonia L. Garcia	....	art department buyer
Sandy Gilzow	....	swing
Robert McLin	....	property master: second unit
Jorge Paris	....	set decorating consultant: second unit
Suzanne Stover	....	set dresser: second unit
Leif E. Ulvog	....	swing
Eddie Vertigo	....	property master assistant: second unit
Michael Wilks	....	lead man
Kelly Bogdan	....	property assistant (uncredited)
Marcus LaPorte	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Betancourt	....	foley mixer
Larry Blake	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Blake	....	supervising sound editor
Matt Coby	....	sound editor
Thadd Day	....	boom operator
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist (as Dawn Finto)
Jay Gallagher	....	sound editor
Patricia Gorman	....	sound editor
Benjamin Lowry	....	sound mixer: second unit
Jennifer Murphy	....	sound mixer
David Richmond	....	sound engineer
Gar Robertson	....	adr: Los Angeles
Danny Schmidt	....	boom operator: second unit
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist

Stunts
Mark Kay	....	fight coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Troy Anderson	....	best boy electric
Marc Andrus	....	key grip
Steve Belsky	....	electrician
Theda Cunningham	....	first assistant camera
Ted Davis	....	best boy grip: second unit
Tim Dye	....	grip (as Tom Dye)
Brouke Franklin	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Kat Gibson	....	camera production assistant: second unit
Sandy Gilzow	....	key grip: second unit
Victoria Gonzales	....	additional second assistant camera: second unit
Robert Hicks	....	key rigging grip (as Rob Hix)
Donald R. Howe Jr.	....	unit photographer (as Don Howe)
Tom Kalbfleisch	....	gaffer: second unit
Jeannette Kassem	....	grip
Brad Keffer	....	swing: second unit
Pete Kolb	....	best boy grip
Joe Litzinger	....	cinematographer: additional unit (as Joseph P. Litzinger)
Brick McCarthy	....	grip
Richard Nance	....	grip
Trevor Nelson	....	camera intern
Chris Ortiz	....	electrician
Jeff Peterson	....	additional electrician: second unit
Joseph Phillips	....	additional electrician: second unit
Robert B. Reynolds	....	electrician (as Robert Reynolds)
Jas. Shelton	....	director of photography: second unit
Jas. Shelton	....	gaffer
Jeremy S.	....	electrician
James Smith	....	grip
Josh Taylor	....	best boy electric: second unit
Cynthia Tello	....	second assistant camera (as Cynthia M. Tello)
Greg Travis	....	electrician
Tim Travis	....	electrician
Ezra Venetos	....	additional best boy grip: second unit
Atom Vyvial	....	grip
Ralph Watson	....	Steadicam operator
Thomas Young	....	additional first assistant camera: second unit
Thomas Young	....	second assistant camera: second uint

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Chandrika Aggrawal	....	wardrobe assistant
Karly Hand	....	wardrobe assistant second unit
Leeann Radeka	....	wardrobe supervisor (as LeeAnn Radeka)
Jennifer Wilson	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
John Davidson	....	color corrector
Ben Edwards	....	on-line editor: FILMLOOK
Serge Rodnunsky	....	post-production services: Rojak
Jadie Zimmerman	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Houston Haynes	....	composer: additional music
Nicole Nevin	....	conductor (uncredited)
Nicole Nevin	....	musician: violin and vibraphone (uncredited)
Aejaz Zahid	....	music supervisor
Rick Fry	....	musician: electric and acoustic guitars (uncredited)
Tom Geron	....	score recordist (uncredited)
Deane Ogden	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
T.J. Reid	....	score mixer (uncredited)
Katie Williamson	....	music preparation (uncredited)
Aejaz Zahid	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Charles Coulter	....	driver: honeywagon
Sandy Gilzow	....	driver: grip truck

Other crew
Hondo Aguilar	....	craft service
Hondo Aguilar	....	production assistant
Ather Ali	....	production coordinator: additional unit
Ather Ali	....	story consultant
Gary Archer	....	braces and headgear: Ruby
Beatrice Bellino	....	script supervisor: second unit
Ryan Collins	....	production assistant
Logan Cooper	....	location manager: second unit
Tiffany Lynn Drucker	....	craft service: second unit (as Tiffany Drucker)
Scottie Duncan	....	chef
The Eliminator	....	security: Mr. Shankardass
Brian Franklin	....	production assistant
Lovinder Gill	....	story consultant
Joey Hudgins	....	location manager
Tali Jaffe	....	production assistant
Shiraz Jafri	....	story consultant
Brian Johnson	....	production assistant
Kathy Kaplan	....	intern
Tom Lambeth	....	story consultant
Joe Litzinger	....	production assistant (as Joseph P. Litzinger)
David Long	....	caterer
Jamie Mauldin	....	additional craft service: second unit
G. Morison	....	security officer
Robert Murphy	....	additional craft service
Robert Murphy	....	production assistant
Daniel Norton	....	chef
Jim O'Brien	....	chef: second unit
Kyle Peake	....	production assistant: second unit (as Kyle Peek)
Kiran Rao	....	production coordinator: VPUK, Los Angeles
Tom Risher	....	security officer
Veda Semarne	....	script supervisor
Christopher Stanley	....	assistant: Mr. Shankardass
Dr. Manu S. Talreja	....	braces and headgear: "Ruby"
Ami Thakkar	....	intern
Ami Thakkar	....	production assistant: second unit
Anthony Walters	....	production coordinator: VPUK, London
Bode Webb	....	intern

Thanks
Mohan Reddy	....	thanks
Savita Reddy	....	thanks
Iain Smith	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Victory Productions

Distributors

• Harmony Gold (2005) (non-USA) (all media) (sales)
• Lions Gate Films (2005) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• Air India  thanks
• B. B. Rovers International Cafe & Pub  thanks (as B.B. Rovers)
• Blackmail  thanks
• Casa Loco  thanks
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies by
• City of Austin, Texas, The  thanks
• Coutts & CO  thanks
• FilmLook  post-production services
• Gear Rental  thanks (as Gear Film and Rental)
• Homestead Studio Suites, Austin  thanks (as Homestead Town Lake)
• Iain Ellis  camera equipment provided by
• Jabberwalkie  thanks
• Leif Johnson Ford  cars provided by
• Longhorn Rentals  thanks (as Longhorn car & truck)
• MLD Equipment Rental  thanks
• MPS Lighting Gear  thanks (as MPS Lights)
• Rao Productions  payroll services
• Richmond Post Production  soundtrack recording
• Rojak Films  post-production services
• Studio 3 Productions Inc.  off-line editing
• Swelltone Labs  post-production sound services
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation  foley recorded at
• Victory Studios  on-line editing
• Westgate Lanes  thanks

Also Known As:

Arrangement (International: English title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (DVD) | USA:PG-13 (MPAA rating) | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Victory Productions

Movie Connections:

References Matar o morir (1984)

Soundtrack:

I Love You

Good for what it is

Fans of Bollywood: do not come to this movie expecting the lavish sets, dazzling choreography, or even catchy tunes to which you are accustomed. There is no singing in this film, and the dancing which takes place in the beginning, well... let's say you'll be glad when it's over.

The film follows the typical Bollywood-type love story, except it is set in the States. The actors are decent, engaging in a fair amount of slapstick in the beginning which is nicely carried out so as not to drag the film into too much silliness.

If you don't have very high expectations and are willing to relax and laugh at a few silly gags for an hour and a half, this film will not disappoint. It is fun, cute, and all the other things movies of its kind are supposed to be, even if not the best of the lot.

Those who'd throw a fit over this film being bad obviously had no idea what such a production is supposed to be about. If you are one of them, approach with caution: this is a super-corny romantic comedy.

As far as those who were left dumbfounded by the plot... perhaps the simple chain of events made too many demands on them. Ignore.

Have fun watching!