Aside from the routine fare of one shaadi and a Karwa Chauth number that these new films feature, I've noticed the growing trend to incorporate regional customs and ethnicity. Most Hindi flicks I've seen center on a Punjabi family, but a few have featured other backgrounds (ie. Gujuratis in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Tamilians/Nagas in Dil Se and now Bengalis in Devdas).

I'm curious to know if any other films are noted for focusing on ethnic backgrounds. Has there been any movie spotlighting Sindhi culture? Or how about the Goan lifestyle? Anything on a family in Orissa?

Hum aapke dil mein rehte hain had the God Bharai Rasm (as you call it in the north)...but from a south indian perspective.

Josh was based in Goa, don't really know if it focused on the lifestyle though

There are quite a few films based in Goa, most of them have flopped at the B.O.

JALWA was a good movie, failed at B.O.
JOSH failed
TERA MERA SAATH RAHEN failed (i think this was another Goan setting, not sure)
KHAMOSHI *ing Salman, Manisha failed.

Dil Se featured a Malyalee family - not a Tamilian one. Anyway, most Hindi films aren't about Punjabis. Hindi films usually don't really bring attention to ethnicity - except for the sake of comedy. Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Pardes, Lagaan, Sholay, Mother India, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar are some popular films about people and places in Uttar Pradesh. Shool was about Bihar. Asoka concerns Bihar and Orissa.

Do Bigha Zameen, Gunga Jamuna, Sasural,Baiju Bawra, Naya Daur, Madhumati, Don, Upkar and Purab Aur Paschim are also some films based in Uttar Pradesh, actually nearly all old films are based there. I wonder anyone remembers our favourite UPwala Amitabh Bachchan in the film Pan Khaye Sanya!! I think nowadays the obsession is more on Punjabi culture but then again we have Lagaan.