Blinded By The Light Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival Blinded By The Light, 10.40pm, BBC1, Friday
Gurinder Chadha's coming-of-age comedy hits all the right notes - and not just in terms of its Bruce Springsteen soundtrack. It's 1987 and Javed has high hopes of being a writer. When a friend (Aaron Phagura) turns him on to The Boss, Javed becomes his No.1 fan and.uses the music for inspiration. Underpinned by the engaging memoir by Sarfraz Manzoor, from which it is adapted, this is a pacy consideration of teenage life of the period that tackles more serious considerations of the racism and prejudice of the period lightly but effectively.
The Son, Amazon Prime
Anne-Katrin Titze writes: The center of Florian Zeller’s intergenerational drama, The Son, adapted from his play Le Fils by Christopher Hampton, is occupied by a cypher. Nicholas (Zen McGrath) is 17 and lives with his mother Kate in Brooklyn.
Gurinder Chadha's coming-of-age comedy hits all the right notes - and not just in terms of its Bruce Springsteen soundtrack. It's 1987 and Javed has high hopes of being a writer. When a friend (Aaron Phagura) turns him on to The Boss, Javed becomes his No.1 fan and.uses the music for inspiration. Underpinned by the engaging memoir by Sarfraz Manzoor, from which it is adapted, this is a pacy consideration of teenage life of the period that tackles more serious considerations of the racism and prejudice of the period lightly but effectively.
The Son, Amazon Prime
Anne-Katrin Titze writes: The center of Florian Zeller’s intergenerational drama, The Son, adapted from his play Le Fils by Christopher Hampton, is occupied by a cypher. Nicholas (Zen McGrath) is 17 and lives with his mother Kate in Brooklyn.
- 4/17/2023
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Stars: Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Aaron Phagura, Dean-Charles Chapman, Nikita Mehta, Nell Williams, Tara Divina, Rob Brydon, Frankie Fox, Hayley Atwell, Sally Phillips | Written by Paul Mayeda Berges, Gurinder Chadha, Sarfraz Manzoor | Directed by Gurinder Chadha
Blinded by the Light is directed by famed Indian/British director Gurinder Chadha – a sizeable and much-needed voice in British Cinema who has been a devotee of crafting and spreading stories of minorities since the early days of her work with the BFI in the 1990s. Bend It like Beckham brought her worldwide attention and critical acclaim; however, Chadha has been on the quiet end of her cinematic entities ever since. Crafting more Indian led stories to great success. She dived back into coming of age circuit with the cult hit Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, her first and only predominately white cast, but it would take another decade until Viceroys House...
Blinded by the Light is directed by famed Indian/British director Gurinder Chadha – a sizeable and much-needed voice in British Cinema who has been a devotee of crafting and spreading stories of minorities since the early days of her work with the BFI in the 1990s. Bend It like Beckham brought her worldwide attention and critical acclaim; however, Chadha has been on the quiet end of her cinematic entities ever since. Crafting more Indian led stories to great success. She dived back into coming of age circuit with the cult hit Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, her first and only predominately white cast, but it would take another decade until Viceroys House...
- 12/11/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
To mark the release of Blinded by the Light on 9th December, we’ve been given 2 copies to give away on Blu-ray.
Based on Manzoor’s memoir ‘Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll,’ Blinded by the Light follows the inspirational story of 16-year-old British Pakistani boy, Javed (Viveik Kalra) growing up in the boring, industrial city of Luton in 1987. Javed wants what all teenagers want: a girlfriend, the freedom to go to parties, but most of all, he wants to be a writer. Unfortunately, his family has other ideas of how Pakistani boys should behave. A chance run-in with a boy at his new school leaves Javed with a Bruce Springsteen cassette tape. When he first hears Springsteen’s music, everything in his life changes. The lyrics encourage him to find his own writing voice, talk to the girl he’s always fancied and challenge his...
Based on Manzoor’s memoir ‘Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll,’ Blinded by the Light follows the inspirational story of 16-year-old British Pakistani boy, Javed (Viveik Kalra) growing up in the boring, industrial city of Luton in 1987. Javed wants what all teenagers want: a girlfriend, the freedom to go to parties, but most of all, he wants to be a writer. Unfortunately, his family has other ideas of how Pakistani boys should behave. A chance run-in with a boy at his new school leaves Javed with a Bruce Springsteen cassette tape. When he first hears Springsteen’s music, everything in his life changes. The lyrics encourage him to find his own writing voice, talk to the girl he’s always fancied and challenge his...
- 12/9/2019
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
What Danny Boyle couldn't do for the Beatles, Gurinder Chadha has done for Bruce Springsteen in this amiable, if predictable, diasporic dramedy about a Pakistani British teenager Javed Khan struggling to find his bearings in a hostile pre-Brexit London, while his tyrannical, tradition-bound father Malik Khan (Kulvinder Ghir) spreads his toxic blustering bigotry all across his family of sons, two daughters and a typically repressed wife.
It is all a bit too predictable, though no less enjoyable for it.
It wouldn't be inaccurate to say this is Gurinder's most confident and captivating work since her game-changing "Bend It Like Beckham". In fact many of the dramatic tropes and slopes in the storytelling are identical in both films. In "Bend It Like Beckham", it was Parminder Nagra and football forming an unorthodox alliance. Here it is Viveik Kalra and Springsteen.
The most charming aspect of this robustly constructed aspirational tale is...
It is all a bit too predictable, though no less enjoyable for it.
It wouldn't be inaccurate to say this is Gurinder's most confident and captivating work since her game-changing "Bend It Like Beckham". In fact many of the dramatic tropes and slopes in the storytelling are identical in both films. In "Bend It Like Beckham", it was Parminder Nagra and football forming an unorthodox alliance. Here it is Viveik Kalra and Springsteen.
The most charming aspect of this robustly constructed aspirational tale is...
- 9/16/2019
- GlamSham
Stars: Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Aaron Phagura, Dean-Charles Chapman, Nikita Mehta, Nell Williams, Tara Divina, Rob Brydon, Frankie Fox, Hayley Atwell, Sally Phillips | Written by Paul Mayeda Berges, Gurinder Chadha, Sarfraz Manzoor | Directed by Gurinder Chadha
Blinded by the Light is directed by famed Indian/British director Gurinder Chadha – a sizeable and much-needed voice in British Cinema who has been a devotee of crafting and spreading stories of minorities since the early days of her work with the BFI in the 1990s. Bend It like Beckham brought her worldwide attention and critical acclaim; however, Chadha has been on the quiet end of her cinematic entities ever since. Crafting more Indian led stories to great success. She dived back into coming of age circuit with the cult hit Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, her first and only predominately white cast, but it would take another decade until Viceroys House...
Blinded by the Light is directed by famed Indian/British director Gurinder Chadha – a sizeable and much-needed voice in British Cinema who has been a devotee of crafting and spreading stories of minorities since the early days of her work with the BFI in the 1990s. Bend It like Beckham brought her worldwide attention and critical acclaim; however, Chadha has been on the quiet end of her cinematic entities ever since. Crafting more Indian led stories to great success. She dived back into coming of age circuit with the cult hit Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, her first and only predominately white cast, but it would take another decade until Viceroys House...
- 8/30/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
“Intimate” concert doc will be companion piece of sorts to Blinded By The Light.
Warner Bros is staying in the Bruce Springsteen business and has picked up worldwide rights to Toronto-bound Western Stars as the studio prepares to launch Gurinder Chadha’s Springsteen-themed Blinded By The Light on Friday (16).
Western Stars receives its world premiere in Toronto’s Gala section next month and finds The Boss in “intimate and personal” mood as he performs his latest album of the same name with a band and full orchestra under the cathedral-like interior of his barn.
The documentary comes in at a...
Warner Bros is staying in the Bruce Springsteen business and has picked up worldwide rights to Toronto-bound Western Stars as the studio prepares to launch Gurinder Chadha’s Springsteen-themed Blinded By The Light on Friday (16).
Western Stars receives its world premiere in Toronto’s Gala section next month and finds The Boss in “intimate and personal” mood as he performs his latest album of the same name with a band and full orchestra under the cathedral-like interior of his barn.
The documentary comes in at a...
- 8/16/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Days before last January’s rapturous Sundance premiere of “Blinded by the Light,” director Gurinder Chadha was struggling with her decision to cut the best scene in the entire film. “It’s just not going to work,” she remembered thinking. “It’s too fucking corny. And we’re already going to get it in the neck from so many cynical British people who are going to think the movie is cheesy as hell.” She took it out.
Chadha, who boasts that her “Bend It Like Beckham” connected with people around the globe so profoundly that it became the first Western-made film to ever air on television in North Korea, knows a thing or two about what audiences are looking for. But if you’ve seen “Blinded by the Light,” it’s easy to appreciate how difficult this particular editing decision must have been — even for her.
Adapted from Sarfraz Manzoor...
Chadha, who boasts that her “Bend It Like Beckham” connected with people around the globe so profoundly that it became the first Western-made film to ever air on television in North Korea, knows a thing or two about what audiences are looking for. But if you’ve seen “Blinded by the Light,” it’s easy to appreciate how difficult this particular editing decision must have been — even for her.
Adapted from Sarfraz Manzoor...
- 8/16/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
During a summer dominated by Marvel characters and Disney films, two British imports managed to sneak in under the radar, both bringing the music of two of the best-loved artists of all time to the big screen – The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen. Despite the success of the Beatles-inspired Yesterday at the box office, only one of these movies will be remembered for being worth the price of admission a year from now and that film will be Blinded by the Light.
Gurinder Chadha – the writer, director, and producer of Bend it Like Beckham (2002) – has another independent hit on her hands with, Blinded by the Light, a story adapted from Sarfraz Manzoor’s book Greetings from Bury Park – a tribute to Bruce Springsteen and how The Boss shaped Manzoor’s own teenage years growing up outside of London. A heartwarming story and fantasy-like scenes featuring the songs “Thunder Road” and...
Gurinder Chadha – the writer, director, and producer of Bend it Like Beckham (2002) – has another independent hit on her hands with, Blinded by the Light, a story adapted from Sarfraz Manzoor’s book Greetings from Bury Park – a tribute to Bruce Springsteen and how The Boss shaped Manzoor’s own teenage years growing up outside of London. A heartwarming story and fantasy-like scenes featuring the songs “Thunder Road” and...
- 8/16/2019
- by Mark Eaton
- CinemaNerdz
When Blinded By the Light first premiered at Sundance, it immediately became a buzzy crowd-pleaser that was picked up by New Line. That was in January. As we near the end of summer, the musical dramedy has maintained its buzz like the longevity and energy of a Bruce Springsteen song. Directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) and based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll the film stars newcomer Viveik Kalra in an emotional story of race, cultural identity, family and friendship told through the music of The Boss.
Set in the working-class, post-industrial British town of Luton during 1987, Blinded by the Light (in theaters August 16) tells the story of Javed (Kalra) who feels that he is growing up in a town full of losers Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he finds solace in writing poetry...
Set in the working-class, post-industrial British town of Luton during 1987, Blinded by the Light (in theaters August 16) tells the story of Javed (Kalra) who feels that he is growing up in a town full of losers Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he finds solace in writing poetry...
- 8/15/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Finding joy for many people is rooted in music, and nothing expresses that joy like the love of a particular artist. Bruce Springsteen is the rocker that helps a British immigrant through some hard times in the new film “Blinded by the Light,” and the beneficiary of that joy is portrayed by Viveik Kaira.
Based on a true story by journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, the story concerns Javid (Kaira) and his immigrant Pakistani family living in the town of Luton, in 1980s England. Javid is frustrated by his life there – which includes racism and harassment – and the clashes with his traditional father (Kulvinder Ghir) over his western ways and desire to be a writer. Things change when his friend Roops (Aaron Phagura) introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, and the New Jersey rocker’s freedom-inspiring lyrics motivates Javid to break out of every stereotype that has chained him.
Based on a true story by journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, the story concerns Javid (Kaira) and his immigrant Pakistani family living in the town of Luton, in 1980s England. Javid is frustrated by his life there – which includes racism and harassment – and the clashes with his traditional father (Kulvinder Ghir) over his western ways and desire to be a writer. Things change when his friend Roops (Aaron Phagura) introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, and the New Jersey rocker’s freedom-inspiring lyrics motivates Javid to break out of every stereotype that has chained him.
- 8/14/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
For some people, Bruce Springsteen doesn’t just write lyrics — he sings words to live by. That’s the case for Javed (dynamite newcomer Viveik Kalra), a no-hope British-Pakistani teen feeling the financial squeeze of Thatcherism in 1987 Luton. Then he hears Springsteen for the first time, and the words of “Dancing in the Dark” jump out of his headphones and into his life. He’s exhilarated. Look for this exuberant gift of a movie to hit you the same way.
Directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) from a...
Directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) from a...
- 8/13/2019
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
Full disclosure: I’m a massive Bruce Springsteen fan. Despite hailing from New York, not New Jersey, and being born in 1987, when Springsteen was already huge and, at the time, seen as a relic of rock and roll’s past, The Boss speaks to me. His music, his words, they’re something more than just songs. I say that because it really does feel like the new movie Blinded by the Light was made for me. However, that’s only part of why I love it so much. Perfectly attuned to Springsteen, it’s also a massively entertaining coming of age tale and a real crowd pleasing endeavor. Simply put, it’s the best thing I’ve seen all year and I’d be surprised if it didn’t top 2019’s cinematic offerings in my eyes. The film is a music centric coming of age story. Set in 1987 during the...
- 8/12/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Bruce Springsteen was the guest of honor at the Wednesday night (Aug. 7) premiere of “Blinded by The Light” at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Springsteen walked the red carpet with his wife, Patti Scialfa, and stopped to take a photo with stars Viveik Kaira and Aaron Phagura, writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha, and screenwriter/author Sarfraz Manzoor, whose story is the basis of the film.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was seated inside the theatre with 1,500 guests to screen the movie, which is set for release on Aug. 16. The film follows a Pakistani-British teenager and his life-changing journey through Springsteen’s music.
“It was so cool watching it with Bruce,” Chadha said to the audience. “We want the whole world to understand the music and the words of Bruce Springsteen. … The reason why I wanted to make this film is because of what is happening in the world.
Springsteen walked the red carpet with his wife, Patti Scialfa, and stopped to take a photo with stars Viveik Kaira and Aaron Phagura, writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha, and screenwriter/author Sarfraz Manzoor, whose story is the basis of the film.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was seated inside the theatre with 1,500 guests to screen the movie, which is set for release on Aug. 16. The film follows a Pakistani-British teenager and his life-changing journey through Springsteen’s music.
“It was so cool watching it with Bruce,” Chadha said to the audience. “We want the whole world to understand the music and the words of Bruce Springsteen. … The reason why I wanted to make this film is because of what is happening in the world.
- 8/8/2019
- by Michele Amabile Angermiller
- Variety Film + TV
Getting ready for it’s theatrical release worldwide this week Gurinder Chadha’s Blinded By The Light has gotten some early rave reviews! Set set in 1987, during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain. The film is a joyous, coming-of-age story about a British Asian teenager who learns to live life, understand his family and find his own voice through the words and music of Bruce Springsteen. The film is inspired by British journalist Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir, “Greetings From Bury Park”.
The Us premiere had a very special guest. Bruce Springsteen hit the red carpet of Blinded By The Light on Tuesday 7th August in his hometown of Asbury Park, New Jersey. The rock legend attended with his wife, Patti Scialfa, alongside director, Gurinder Chadha, Sarfraz Manzoor, Viveik Kalra, Aaron Phagura and British Asian actress, Jameela Jalil. The premiere was held at the Paramount Theatre on the city’s boardwalk.
The Us premiere had a very special guest. Bruce Springsteen hit the red carpet of Blinded By The Light on Tuesday 7th August in his hometown of Asbury Park, New Jersey. The rock legend attended with his wife, Patti Scialfa, alongside director, Gurinder Chadha, Sarfraz Manzoor, Viveik Kalra, Aaron Phagura and British Asian actress, Jameela Jalil. The premiere was held at the Paramount Theatre on the city’s boardwalk.
- 8/8/2019
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
One of the most anticipated horror movies this year was Jordan Peele’s follow-up to ‘Get Out’, ‘Us’ lead by Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke. Not only did it win over the internet but horror fans and critics alike gave the film a fresh Rotten Tomatoes score. With the film now available to own, Director Jordan Peele and star Winston Duke unravel the detail in the making of the film.
Related: Us Review
Written and directed by Peele, ‘Us’ is set in the present day and follows Adelaide and Gabe Wilson (Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke) as they take their kids to Adelaide’s old childhood beachside home in Northern California for the summer. After a day at the beach with the Tyler family (which includes Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker), Adelaide — who’s haunted by a lingering trauma from her past — becomes increasingly more paranoid that something...
Related: Us Review
Written and directed by Peele, ‘Us’ is set in the present day and follows Adelaide and Gabe Wilson (Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke) as they take their kids to Adelaide’s old childhood beachside home in Northern California for the summer. After a day at the beach with the Tyler family (which includes Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker), Adelaide — who’s haunted by a lingering trauma from her past — becomes increasingly more paranoid that something...
- 8/8/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
This weeks marks the release of Blinded by the Light, a musical coming-of-age drama set in Luton in the 1980s, telling the tale of a young British-Pakistani who falls in love with Bruce Springsteen. We had the pleasure of sitting down with the talent from both behind and in front of the lens, speaking to director Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham) as well as the very man this film is based upon, Sarfraz Manzoor. We also spoke to leading actors Viveik Kalra and Aaron Phagura. You can watch all three of our interviews below, as we discuss all things related to The Boss, and the experiences making this charming little production.
Watch the full interviews below:
Synopsis
Javed is a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in 1987 England. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of...
Watch the full interviews below:
Synopsis
Javed is a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in 1987 England. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of...
- 8/7/2019
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Simon Reynolds Aug 7, 2019
The songs of Bruce Springsteen transform the life of a British-Pakistani boy in Gurinder Chadha's Blinded by the Light.
Sometimes you find salvation in the unlikeliest of places. For Blinded by the Light’s Javed (Viveik Kalra), a British-Pakistani boy growing up in ‘80s Luton, it comes in the form of denim-clad all-American rocker Bruce Springsteen. A first generation immigrant, Javed is caught between the desire of his strict father Malik (Kulvinder Ghir) to become a doctor or lawyer, and his own yearning dream to express himself through words and lyrics. All of this plays out against the backdrop of rising unemployment, the encroaching National Front, and Thatcherism.
Wrestling with his cultural identity, Javed finds clarity after his schoolmate Roops (Aaron Phagura) lends him a pair of Springsteen cassettes--the Boss, Roops says, is “a direct line to all that’s true in this shitty world.” Late one night,...
The songs of Bruce Springsteen transform the life of a British-Pakistani boy in Gurinder Chadha's Blinded by the Light.
Sometimes you find salvation in the unlikeliest of places. For Blinded by the Light’s Javed (Viveik Kalra), a British-Pakistani boy growing up in ‘80s Luton, it comes in the form of denim-clad all-American rocker Bruce Springsteen. A first generation immigrant, Javed is caught between the desire of his strict father Malik (Kulvinder Ghir) to become a doctor or lawyer, and his own yearning dream to express himself through words and lyrics. All of this plays out against the backdrop of rising unemployment, the encroaching National Front, and Thatcherism.
Wrestling with his cultural identity, Javed finds clarity after his schoolmate Roops (Aaron Phagura) lends him a pair of Springsteen cassettes--the Boss, Roops says, is “a direct line to all that’s true in this shitty world.” Late one night,...
- 8/7/2019
- Den of Geek
Enter here for your chance to win a pair of tickets to an advance screening of the new film Blinded By The Light on Thursday, August 8th at 7:00pm at the Mjr Grand Digital Cinema Troy in Troy, Michigan.
To enter the contest, just look for the “Enter the Contest” box further down on this page. But hurry because the contest ends soon and there are only a limited number of passes available and when they’re gone, they’re gone! We’ll notify you before the screening if you’re one of the winners! No Purchase Necessary!
Screening Details
Where: Mjr Grand Digital Cinema Troy What: Blinded By The Light Advance Screening When: Thursday, August 8th @ 7:00pm
About The Film
Blinded By The Light: From writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) comes the drama Blinded by the Light, set to the inspiring music and...
To enter the contest, just look for the “Enter the Contest” box further down on this page. But hurry because the contest ends soon and there are only a limited number of passes available and when they’re gone, they’re gone! We’ll notify you before the screening if you’re one of the winners! No Purchase Necessary!
Screening Details
Where: Mjr Grand Digital Cinema Troy What: Blinded By The Light Advance Screening When: Thursday, August 8th @ 7:00pm
About The Film
Blinded By The Light: From writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) comes the drama Blinded by the Light, set to the inspiring music and...
- 8/3/2019
- by Administrator
- CinemaNerdz
England, 1987. The UK has its first female Prime Minister at the helm in Margaret Thatcher who is battling economic troubles and the rise of the neo-Nazi National Front. In the borough of Luton, the Khan family is trying to get by and make ends meet amid the chaos. The patriarch (Kulvinder Ghir) has lost his job, the matriarch (Meera Ganatra) is forced to make ends meet by working late into the night for what might as well be nothing, and main lead Javed Khan (Viveik Kalra), wants to become a writer despite the expectations of his parents.
When Roops (Aaron Phagura), the only Sikh boy at school, introduces Khan to the music of Bruce Springsteen Khan is inspired. Javed finds his voice giving him the courage to follow his dreams, find love, and assert himself against family traditions that he believes are getting in the way of his dreams. But Javed learns soon enough,...
When Roops (Aaron Phagura), the only Sikh boy at school, introduces Khan to the music of Bruce Springsteen Khan is inspired. Javed finds his voice giving him the courage to follow his dreams, find love, and assert himself against family traditions that he believes are getting in the way of his dreams. But Javed learns soon enough,...
- 8/1/2019
- by Rima Bhatia
- Bollyspice
London, England – July 29: Sarfraz Manzoor, Nell Williams, Viveik Kalra, Gurinder Chadha, Aaron Phagura, Meera Ganatra, Kulvinder Ghir and Jane Barclay attend the UK Gala Screening of Blinded By The Light at The Curzon Mayfair on July 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave Hogan/Getty Images for Eone)
Blinded By The Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha, celebrated its UK Gala Screening on Monday 29th July, at the Curzon Mayfair in London. Starring Viveik Kalra, Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Kulvinder Ghir, Nell Williams, Dean-Charles Chapman and Aaron Phagura Blinded By The Light opens nationwide on August 9th
Blinded By The Light is a joyous, coming of age story about a teenager who learns to live life, understand his family and find his own voice through the words and music of Bruce Springsteen.
Javed is a 16-year-old British Pakistani boy growing up in the boring, industrial city
of Luton.
Blinded By The Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha, celebrated its UK Gala Screening on Monday 29th July, at the Curzon Mayfair in London. Starring Viveik Kalra, Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Kulvinder Ghir, Nell Williams, Dean-Charles Chapman and Aaron Phagura Blinded By The Light opens nationwide on August 9th
Blinded By The Light is a joyous, coming of age story about a teenager who learns to live life, understand his family and find his own voice through the words and music of Bruce Springsteen.
Javed is a 16-year-old British Pakistani boy growing up in the boring, industrial city
of Luton.
- 7/30/2019
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
With the success of movie musicals such as the Freddie Mercury/Queen hit Bohemian Rhapsody and Elton John’s Rocketman the turn has come for The Boss – Bruce Springsteen and Gurinder Chadha’s Blinded by the Light. The film stars Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Rob Brydon, Hayley Atwell and Game of Thrones’ Dean-Charles Chapman.
The cast and director were joined by writer Sarfraz Manzoor at the Curzon Mayfair this evening for the a UK Gala Screening of the film, and we were on hand to talk them all about the music and the movie.
Colin Hart and Scott Davis were on the red carpet and conducted these interviews. Blinded by the Light will be released in cinemas from August 9th.
Blinded by the Light Premiere Interviews
Plot:
Set in 1987, during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, Blinded By The Light is a joyous,...
The cast and director were joined by writer Sarfraz Manzoor at the Curzon Mayfair this evening for the a UK Gala Screening of the film, and we were on hand to talk them all about the music and the movie.
Colin Hart and Scott Davis were on the red carpet and conducted these interviews. Blinded by the Light will be released in cinemas from August 9th.
Blinded by the Light Premiere Interviews
Plot:
Set in 1987, during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, Blinded By The Light is a joyous,...
- 7/30/2019
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
From writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha (“Bend It Like Beckham”) comes the inspirational drama “Blinded by the Light,” set to the music and lyrics of Bruce Springsteen’s timeless songs. “Blinded by the Light” tells the story of Javed (Viveik Kalra) a British teen of Pakistani descent, growing up in the town of Luton, England, in 1987. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father. But when a classmate introduces him to the music of “the Boss,” Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in Springsteen’s powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers a cathartic outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to find the courage to express himself in his own unique voice.
Based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir Greetings from Bury Park, “Blinded by the Light...
Based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir Greetings from Bury Park, “Blinded by the Light...
- 7/26/2019
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
"When I'm dancing I block out the world." "I know what you mean..." Entertainment One UK has debuted a new UK trailer for Gurinder Chadha's Blinded by the Light, the joyous musical comedy about a teen from England who loves Springsteen. This premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to universal acclaim, and it's going to be a big hit when it opens later this summer. Inspired by a true story, based on Sarfraz Manzoor's memoir, the film is about a Pakistani boy named Javed who finds his own voice and his identity after being introduced to Bruce Springsteen growing up in the 1980s in the UK. This stars Viveik Kalra as Javed, including Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell, and Dean-Charles Chapman. It was one of my favorite films from Sundance this year and one of my quotes (from this review...
- 5/19/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
We have the brand-new poster and trailer for Gurinder Chadha’s new film Blinded By The Light.
Set in 1987, during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, Blinded By The Light is a joyous, coming-of-age story about a teenager who learns to live life, understand his family and find his own voice through the words and music of Bruce Springsteen. Blinded by the Light is inspired by British journalist Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir “Greetings From Bury Park.”
The film stars Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir (Bend it Like Beckham), Meera Ganatra (PREMature), Nell Williams (Game of Thrones), Aaron Phagura (Doctor Who), Dean Charles-Chapman, Hayley Atwell (Avengers: Endgame) and Rob Brydon (Swimming with Men).
Check out the fabulous trailer
The film opens in UK and Irish cinemas on August 9th and the rest of the world on the 14th.
Gurinder Chadha is also going to be at the London Indian Film Festival...
Set in 1987, during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, Blinded By The Light is a joyous, coming-of-age story about a teenager who learns to live life, understand his family and find his own voice through the words and music of Bruce Springsteen. Blinded by the Light is inspired by British journalist Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir “Greetings From Bury Park.”
The film stars Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir (Bend it Like Beckham), Meera Ganatra (PREMature), Nell Williams (Game of Thrones), Aaron Phagura (Doctor Who), Dean Charles-Chapman, Hayley Atwell (Avengers: Endgame) and Rob Brydon (Swimming with Men).
Check out the fabulous trailer
The film opens in UK and Irish cinemas on August 9th and the rest of the world on the 14th.
Gurinder Chadha is also going to be at the London Indian Film Festival...
- 5/16/2019
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
‘Bend It Like Beckham’ director Gurinder Chadha is back with an all-new British film set to the music of The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, and a feel-good UK trailer has now been released.
Chadha has based the film on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir ‘Greetings from Bury Park’ about a Pakistani teen growing up during the late ’80s who finds his voice from the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen songs.
The film stars Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell and Dean-Charles Chapman.
Also in trailers – Red Band trailer for Jim Jarmusch’s ‘The Dead Don’t Die’ has arisen
The film is released in the UK August 9th.
Blinded By The Light Synopsis
Set in 1987, during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, Blinded By The Light is a joyous, coming-of-age story about a teenager who learns to live life, understand his family and find his...
Chadha has based the film on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir ‘Greetings from Bury Park’ about a Pakistani teen growing up during the late ’80s who finds his voice from the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen songs.
The film stars Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell and Dean-Charles Chapman.
Also in trailers – Red Band trailer for Jim Jarmusch’s ‘The Dead Don’t Die’ has arisen
The film is released in the UK August 9th.
Blinded By The Light Synopsis
Set in 1987, during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, Blinded By The Light is a joyous, coming-of-age story about a teenager who learns to live life, understand his family and find his...
- 5/16/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Bentonville Film Festival (Bff) announced final additions to their programming which includes the world premiere of the Netflix film Good Sam starring Tiya Sircar. The fest, which was co-created by Geena Davis and champions inclusion in all forms of media, has also added spotlight screenings of Gurinder Chadha’s Sundance Springsteen hit Blinded By The Light from New Line Cinema as well as Stx’s animated feature UglyDolls. Now in its fifth year, the festival kicked off May 7 and continues through May 11 in Bentonville, Ark.
Based on the book by Dete Meserve, Good Sam explores what happens when a mysterious good Samaritan (aka “Good Sam”) leaves $100,000 cash on seemingly random doorsteps. TV news reporter Kate Bradley (Sircar) sets out to discover Good Sam’s true identity and motive, turning her personal life upside down. Kate Melville directs from a script by Meserve and Teena Booth. Good Sam will screen...
Based on the book by Dete Meserve, Good Sam explores what happens when a mysterious good Samaritan (aka “Good Sam”) leaves $100,000 cash on seemingly random doorsteps. TV news reporter Kate Bradley (Sircar) sets out to discover Good Sam’s true identity and motive, turning her personal life upside down. Kate Melville directs from a script by Meserve and Teena Booth. Good Sam will screen...
- 5/8/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
At the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, a movie debuted called Blinded by the Light. Yes, the title is taking reference from a Bruce Springsteen song, as The Boss’ music is central to this flick. Over in Park City, it turned out to be one of the fest’s biggest crowd pleasers, getting picked up and scheduled for a summer release date. Now, we saw the Trailer drop for it yesterday, cluing everyone in to just what made it so special back in January. You can see it at the bottom of the post, with some commentary to come first, as per the usual. The film is a coming of age story, based on the actual teenage years of one of the writers. The plot synopsis, via IMDb, is as follows: “In 1987 during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, a teenager learns to live life, understand his family...
- 5/3/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
‘Bend It Like Beckham’ director Gurinder Chadha is back with an all-new British film set to the music of The Boss, Bruce Springsteen and a feel-good trailer has now been released.
Following in the footsteps of Danny Boyle, whose next film is set to the songs of The Beatles, Chadha has based the film on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir ‘Greetings from Bury Park’ about a Pakistani teen growing up during the late ’80s who finds his voice from the lyric’s of Bruce Springsteen songs.
The film stars Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell and Dean-Charles Chapman.
Also in trailers – A deadly storm brings monstrous predators in trailer for ‘Crawl’
Blinded By The Light Synopsis
The film focuses on Javed (Viveik Kalra), a teenager growing up during Thatcher’s reign in 1987. Amidst racial and economic turmoil, he writes poetry as a means to...
Following in the footsteps of Danny Boyle, whose next film is set to the songs of The Beatles, Chadha has based the film on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir ‘Greetings from Bury Park’ about a Pakistani teen growing up during the late ’80s who finds his voice from the lyric’s of Bruce Springsteen songs.
The film stars Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell and Dean-Charles Chapman.
Also in trailers – A deadly storm brings monstrous predators in trailer for ‘Crawl’
Blinded By The Light Synopsis
The film focuses on Javed (Viveik Kalra), a teenager growing up during Thatcher’s reign in 1987. Amidst racial and economic turmoil, he writes poetry as a means to...
- 5/3/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"I can feel it all right here! It's like Bruce knows everything I've ever felt." Warner Bros has unveiled the first trailer for Chadha's Blinded by the Light, the triumphant, instant-classic musical comedy about a teen from England who loves Bruce Springsteen. This premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to universal acclaim, being heralded as the next great indie musical following Sing Street. Inspired by a true story, based on Sarfraz Manzoor's acclaimed memoir, the film is about a Pakistani boy named Javed who finds his own voice and his own identity after being introduced to Bruce Springsteen growing up in the 1980s. Blinded by the Light stars Viveik Kalra as Javed, plus Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell, and Dean-Charles Chapman. This was one of my favorite films from Sundance this year (here's my full review), it's so wonderful and will...
- 5/2/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
A British kid of Pakistani descent finds salvation and inspiration in the music of Bruce Springsteen in the trailer for the upcoming film, Blinded By the Light, set to arrive August 14th.
Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham) directed the film and Sarfraz Manzoor wrote the script, which was based on his memoir, Greetings From Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll. Blinded By the Light stars Viveik Kalra as Javed, a teen who finds himself caught between his traditional family, his love of writing, his burgeoning Springsteen fandom...
Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham) directed the film and Sarfraz Manzoor wrote the script, which was based on his memoir, Greetings From Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll. Blinded By the Light stars Viveik Kalra as Javed, a teen who finds himself caught between his traditional family, his love of writing, his burgeoning Springsteen fandom...
- 5/2/2019
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
There is so much passion, so much love behind (and in front) of the camera in Blinded by the Light that it makes this negative review rather hard to write. Directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend If Like Beckham), the film tells the story of Javed (Viveik Kalra), a Pakistani high-schooler living in Luton in 1987. Thatcher is prime minister, the economy is in flux and racism is alive and well in this town north of London. Javed dreams of leaving, finding some modest joy in writing up lyrics for his buddy Matt (Dean-Charles Chapman), with whom he grew up.
It’s when his Sikh classmate Roops (Aaron Phagura) lends him two Bruce Springsteen cassettes that everything changes. The Boss speaks to Javed, the lyrics literally popping on the screen. As songs like “Born To Run” blare on, a new set of goals emerge for the young man; a fresh look at what’s possible.
It’s when his Sikh classmate Roops (Aaron Phagura) lends him two Bruce Springsteen cassettes that everything changes. The Boss speaks to Javed, the lyrics literally popping on the screen. As songs like “Born To Run” blare on, a new set of goals emerge for the young man; a fresh look at what’s possible.
- 1/31/2019
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Gurinder Chadha’s “Blinded by the Light,” a glorious and almost terminally pure coming-of-age story about a repressed British Pakistani teen in 1987 Luton whose mind explodes when he discovers an uncool American poet by the name of Bruce Springsteen, is a film that feels as out of time as the music tastes of its 16-year-old protagonist. It exudes the earnestness of a Bollywood musical, embraces the familiar immigrant tropes of a less diasporic world, and electrifies its paper-thin but profoundly lovable characters with an optimism that’s as rare in Thatcher’s England as it is in Trump’s America.
And Chadha isn’t the least bit sorry about that, nor about how transparently she combines the warm cross-cultural friction of her own “Bend it Like Beckham” with the exuberance of “Sing Street” before transforming them both with the bone-deep power of the Boss himself (Springsteen gave her permission to...
And Chadha isn’t the least bit sorry about that, nor about how transparently she combines the warm cross-cultural friction of her own “Bend it Like Beckham” with the exuberance of “Sing Street” before transforming them both with the bone-deep power of the Boss himself (Springsteen gave her permission to...
- 1/28/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
New Line is in final negotiations on a massive $15 million deal for “Blinded by the Light,” a coming-of-age film set to Bruce Springsteen’s music that debuted to a rapturous standing ovation at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
“Blinded by the Light” follows a Pakistani British teenager who dreams of escaping life in his drab London suburb. He connects with the music of “The Boss,” whose hardscrabble lyrics mirror his own struggles with racism and economic deprivation. The film was directed by “Bend It Like Beckham’s” Gurinder Chadha and unspools in 1987 at the height of Margaret Thatcher’s conservative transformation of U.K. politics. Negotiations stretched into the early hours of Monday morning, with other studios such as Amazon and Fox Searchlight circling the project at various points.
The deal is for worldwide rights. It is the richest pact out of this year’s Sundance. But even before New Line landed the movie,...
“Blinded by the Light” follows a Pakistani British teenager who dreams of escaping life in his drab London suburb. He connects with the music of “The Boss,” whose hardscrabble lyrics mirror his own struggles with racism and economic deprivation. The film was directed by “Bend It Like Beckham’s” Gurinder Chadha and unspools in 1987 at the height of Margaret Thatcher’s conservative transformation of U.K. politics. Negotiations stretched into the early hours of Monday morning, with other studios such as Amazon and Fox Searchlight circling the project at various points.
The deal is for worldwide rights. It is the richest pact out of this year’s Sundance. But even before New Line landed the movie,...
- 1/28/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In “Blinded by the Light,” Javed (Viveik Kalra), a Pakistani British teenager living in a drab London suburb in 1987, discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen, and it jolts him alive. From the moment he straps on his Walkman headphones and drinks in the tightrope of ecstasy and despair that is “Dancing in the Dark” (“There’s something happening somewhere…”), the lyrics swirling around him on screen, he’s more than just a born-again Bruce fan. Bruce’s music becomes his fixation, his obsession and identity, his runaway American dream. He just about syncs his heartbeat to that sound, and it gives him the courage to do things he wouldn’t have dared otherwise — like, for instance, asking Eliza (Nell Williams), a girl in his literature class, out on a date.
The date starts off sort of humdrum, and Javed gets ready to call it a night. But then he puts on those headphones,...
The date starts off sort of humdrum, and Javed gets ready to call it a night. But then he puts on those headphones,...
- 1/28/2019
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Harvey Weinstein is returning to the Sundance Film Festival, at least on screen.
A looming and powerful presence at the Robert Redford founded huddle for decades, an Ursula MacFarlane directed documentary about the rise and fall of the now disgraced and much accused producer is one of the premieres at this year’s Sff.
Implicated by more than 60 women of sexual assault or sexual harassment, a number of which took place at the Utah film gathering, Weinstein is facing a plethora of civil cases from Ashley Judd and more. Once commanding the back seats of the Eccles Theater with his entourage during Sundance, Weinstein now faces criminal charges that could see him spending the rest of his life behind bars if the Manhattan D.A. gets his way.
Along with Untouchable, Sundance 2019 will also feature first ever looks at the Mindy Kaling penned and starring Late Night, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s...
A looming and powerful presence at the Robert Redford founded huddle for decades, an Ursula MacFarlane directed documentary about the rise and fall of the now disgraced and much accused producer is one of the premieres at this year’s Sff.
Implicated by more than 60 women of sexual assault or sexual harassment, a number of which took place at the Utah film gathering, Weinstein is facing a plethora of civil cases from Ashley Judd and more. Once commanding the back seats of the Eccles Theater with his entourage during Sundance, Weinstein now faces criminal charges that could see him spending the rest of his life behind bars if the Manhattan D.A. gets his way.
Along with Untouchable, Sundance 2019 will also feature first ever looks at the Mindy Kaling penned and starring Late Night, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s...
- 11/28/2018
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2019 Sundance Film Festival has announced its entire feature film lineup for the January gathering. The festival has revealed its high-profile Premieres and Documentary Premieres selections in addition to the full list of films screening in four different competition sections, plus the forward-thinking Next section, the Kids lineup, and the Midnight list.
The 2019 feature film lineup includes a number of highly anticipated titles, including the Shia Labeouf-penned and Alma Har’el-directed “Honey Boy,” Joe Berlinger’s Zac Efron-starring Ted Bundy feature, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s feature directorial debut “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” Nanfu Wang’s latest documentary “One Child Nation,” the prescient doc “Knock Down the House,” and Alice Waddington’s wild-looking Nacho Vigalondo-written “Paradise Hills.” Plenty of Sundance alums are returning to debut new work, including Anne Sewitsky, Alex Gibney, Nick Broomfield, Justin Chon, Matt Tyrnauer, and Veronika Franz.
As is the festival’s tradition,...
The 2019 feature film lineup includes a number of highly anticipated titles, including the Shia Labeouf-penned and Alma Har’el-directed “Honey Boy,” Joe Berlinger’s Zac Efron-starring Ted Bundy feature, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s feature directorial debut “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” Nanfu Wang’s latest documentary “One Child Nation,” the prescient doc “Knock Down the House,” and Alice Waddington’s wild-looking Nacho Vigalondo-written “Paradise Hills.” Plenty of Sundance alums are returning to debut new work, including Anne Sewitsky, Alex Gibney, Nick Broomfield, Justin Chon, Matt Tyrnauer, and Veronika Franz.
As is the festival’s tradition,...
- 11/28/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Entertainment One has taken U.K. and Australian rights on Gurinder Chadha’s new film, “Blinded by the Light,” a comedy drama inspired by rock legend Bruce Springsteen. Cornerstone Films has released a first-look image from the film (pictured), which began production last week, and will introduce it to international buyers at the Cannes Film Festival next month.
The film, described as a “hybrid musical” that weaves Springsteen’s music and lyrics into its narrative, stars newcomers Viveik Kalra and Nell Williams as its romantic leads, alongside Hayley Atwell and Rob Brydon in supporting roles. The movie grew out of a shared passion for Springsteen by Chadha, the director of “Bend It Like Beckham,” and British journalist Sarfraz Manzoor.
“Blinded by the Light” is based on Manzoor’s 2008 memoir, “Greetings From Bury Park,” which chronicles his experience as a British Muslim boy growing up in 1980s Luton, outside London, and...
The film, described as a “hybrid musical” that weaves Springsteen’s music and lyrics into its narrative, stars newcomers Viveik Kalra and Nell Williams as its romantic leads, alongside Hayley Atwell and Rob Brydon in supporting roles. The movie grew out of a shared passion for Springsteen by Chadha, the director of “Bend It Like Beckham,” and British journalist Sarfraz Manzoor.
“Blinded by the Light” is based on Manzoor’s 2008 memoir, “Greetings From Bury Park,” which chronicles his experience as a British Muslim boy growing up in 1980s Luton, outside London, and...
- 4/11/2018
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, newcomer Viveik Kalra feature in cast of 1980s-set comedy-drama.
Entertainment One (eOne) has taken UK and Australia distribution rights to Gurinder Chadha’s comedy-drama Blinded By The Light, starring Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Kulvinder Ghir and newcomer Viveik Kalra.
The project chronicles the experiences of a British Muslim boy growing up in the UK in the 1980s who is impacted by the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen; it was developed by Chadha and journalist Sarfraz Manzoor from the latter’s memoir Greetings from Bury Park, with a screenplay from Paul Mayeda Berges (Bend It Like Beckham).
eOne...
Entertainment One (eOne) has taken UK and Australia distribution rights to Gurinder Chadha’s comedy-drama Blinded By The Light, starring Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Kulvinder Ghir and newcomer Viveik Kalra.
The project chronicles the experiences of a British Muslim boy growing up in the UK in the 1980s who is impacted by the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen; it was developed by Chadha and journalist Sarfraz Manzoor from the latter’s memoir Greetings from Bury Park, with a screenplay from Paul Mayeda Berges (Bend It Like Beckham).
eOne...
- 4/11/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
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