Namaste Wahala () is a 2020 Nigerian cross-cultural romantic comedy film produced, written and directed by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja on her directorial debut. The film stars Ini Dima-Okojie and Ruslaan Mumtaz in the lead roles. This film was hailed as the first major collaboration between Bollywood and Nollywood which are two of the biggest film industries in the world. The film is based on relationship between an Indian man and a Nigerian woman who defy the odds despite their different backgrounds and cultures. It had limited theatrical release in Nigeria on 1 December 2020 and opened to positive reviews from critics. The film was globally streamed via Netflix on 14 February 2021 coinciding with the Valentine's Day and received mixed reviews.
Synopsis
Raj (Ruslaan Mumtaz), an Indian-born investment banker based in Lagos, falls in love with Didi, (Ini Dima-Okojie), a Nigerian pro bono lawyer who works for her friend Leila's (Hamisha Daryani Ahuja) NGO. The couple keep their relationship under wraps as Didi's father, Ernest, (Richard Mofe-Damijo) prefers his employee Somto (Ibrahim Suleiman) as a suitor. He also disapproves of Didi's commitment to the NGO as opposed to her dedication to his powerful law firm. After dating for three months, Raj introduces himself to Didi's family who are shocked to discover he is Indian, as Didi had not informed them beforehand.
Didi seeks justice for fellow NGO volunteer Jane (Imoh Eboh), who has been physically assaulted by Raymond (Chukwuemeka Okoye), Ernest's major client's son, and refuses to drop the case when Ernest reminds her of his business ties with Raymond's family, choosing to resign from her father's firm instead. Raymond is represented by Preemo (Osas Ighodaro), Didi's scheming nemesis who constantly taunts her legal background and is bent on securing a superior position with Ernest's firm. Raymond denies having attacked Jane, claiming she had attempted to murder him in a hotel corridor instead. Unfortunately, the only proof leading to Jane's innocence has mysteriously disappeared as Preemo has destroyed the CCTV footage. Didi is furious, and after accusing Ernest of choosing monetary gain over moral principles she leaves the family home for Raj's apartment.
Raj's mother Meera (Sujata Sehgal) is horrified upon meeting Didi during a visit to Nigeria, and is against the relationship due to their cultural differences. Although Meera reluctantly agrees to stay in Raj's apartment with her son and his girlfriend, she remains hostile towards Didi, resulting in several clashes between the two women including a comical incident involving Raj who is torn between Meera's home-cooked meals and Didi's instant Indomie, but Didi refuses to show intimidation.
Didi's mother, Shola (Joke Silva), longs for her daughter to return home, but her equally-stubborn husband refuses to appease Didi's ego. After Didi's other friend Angie (Anee Icha) reveals her whereabouts, Shola storms into Raj's apartment where a war of words ensues between her and Meera, although both women disapprove of their children cohabiting together. Shola leaves with Didi, but the latter continues to pine for Raj who is still determined to marry his one true love.
Determined to acquire evidence proving Jane's innocence, Didi returns to the hotel to ask the hotel manager, Tarun (Sailesh Ahuja), for assistance. He remains uncooperative at first, but after discovering she is Raj's girlfriend Tarun directs her to the security staff who produce CCTV footage of the attack. Realising Jane was telling the truth, Ernest agrees to Didi's demand that Raymond pays an out-of-court settlement, and fires Preemo for perverting the course of justice.
Shola tries to discourage Didi from marrying Raj, claiming her in-laws would never truly accept her until Didi reminds her mother of her own inter-tribal heritage (Ernest and Shola are Igbo and Yoruba respectively), and how they had persevered despite opposition from both their families. Meera still has her own reservations, believing Didi would never adjust to Indian culture, but Didi's friend Leila—who is also Raj's cousin—assures her aunt that Nigerian and Indian women are alike in various ways. Meera is won over by this revelation, and she and Raj pay a visit to Didi's parents laden with gifts. A sullen Ernest still regards Somto as an appropriate son-in-law until Meera argues Ernest's smart and hardworking daughter is capable of securing his legacy, and Ernest finally accepts Raj into the family.