The film is directed by Mira Nair, who also directed Salam Bombay!, Mississippi Masala, and The Namesake.
What's it about? I'd say it's broadly about family bonds and more narrowly about Punjabi culture as it adapts to the modern world. It has a lot of the upbeat entertainment of a Bollywood film, but is more western in its realistic sensitibilities.
Here's a paragraph about the film that sums up what I liked so much:
Aditi is a modern woman, but chooses for the arranged marriage. Monsoon Wedding is about the melding of two cultures, traditional Indian and Western (well, maybe not "Western" per se). Henna painting and traditional wedding garb mix with cell phones, GRE studybooks and cooking shows on tv. Everybody speaks like true multiculturals, switching effortlessly between English and their native languages. The older members of the family do not fathom why the younger members think the way they do. The younger members are headstrong, want to go in less traditional career directions, and do not feel the same about issues like respect. The arguing between family members is constant throughout the entire movie. Nevertheless, Nair and writer Sabrina Dhawan ensure that the conflict is superficial. Underneath lies a great amount of love that cements this family together. Part of the reason Monsoon Wedding is so much fun to watch is because there is such a feeling of hope and optimism, supplemented by the music.
For more, see: www.haro-online.com/movies/monsoon_wedding.html