Best known for her breakout sensation BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, prolific filmmaker Gurinder Chadha has been exploring the intricacies of British-Indian identity for more than three decades, bringing a playful and personal perspective to the experiences of women navigating questions of tradition and change within the South Asian diaspora. These early short documentary and narrative films—including I’M BRITISH BUT . . . , a firsthand look at second-generation Asians in late-1980s Britain, and A NICE ARRANGEMENT, a wry tale of a bride preparing for her arranged marriage—balance warm humor with thought-provoking insight in order to challenge and expand ideas of what constitutes “British” identity.
Directed by Gurinder Chadha • 1989 • United Kingdom
Gurinder Chadha’s unique look at Asians in Britain offers intimate snapshots of second-generation immigrants, interwoven with archival footage and set to invigorating Bhangra and Bangla music. From Manchester rooftops to embattled Belfast and t...
Directed by Gurinder Chadha • 1990 • United Kingdom
Set in the London home of an Indian family on the morning of their daughter’s wedding, this film is a wry depiction of a central Indian tradition—the arranged marriage. As the young Hindu bride, Meena (Tania Rodrigues), changes into her bridal ...
Directed by Gurinder Chadha • 1992 • United Kingdom
This humorous and thought-provoking film documents the residents of a South Asian home for the elderly in Britain. Director Gurinder Chadha assists the residents in directing their own video. The result is an examination of politics, ageism, an...
Directed by Gurinder Chadha • 1994 • United Kingdom
This humorous and thought-provoking documentary reveals the perspectives and aspirations of four Indian women cabaret performers in Britain while posing the questions: What is comedy and who defines it? Is it culturally specific, or can anyone ...
