Bhaji on the Beach [Blu-ray]

A day trip to Blackpool to see the lights offers a harmless break from the routine for a minibus full of women from the

Saheli Asian Women’s Centre.

It all seems innocent enough but as the minibus trundles along to a Punjabi rendition of Cliff Richard’s Summer Holiday,

problems quickly become apparent. Ginder is fleeing her violent husband with her five-year-old son. Hashida is eighteen,

about to start medical school and has just discovered that she is pregnant by her boyfriend. Teenage sisters Madhu and

Ladhu, with no parent in sight, are on the rampage… for a man! Asha is to discover that there is life and, indeed, romance

beyond the confines of the shop counter. And the judgmental Pushpa faces her day of reckoning when she encounters some

male strippers.

Gurinder Chadha’s directorial feature debut of Meera Syal’s witty and observant script is an empowering comedy and

celebration of the enduring bond between women.

Extras

· Presented in High Definition

· I’m British But... (1989, 29 mins): a short film by Gurinder Chadha uncovering a defiant culture of British Asian

sisters and brothers against the rhythms of Bhangra and Bangla music. Includes optional introduction by activist

and broadcaster Shani Dhanda

· A Nice Arrangement (1991, 11 mins): a short comedy directed by Gurinder Chadha and written by Meera Syal about

the pre-ceremony rituals of an arranged marriage

· First film of Blackpool (c1898, 1 min): early footage of Blackpool from the BFI National Archive

· Holiday (1957, 18 mins): the delights of 1950s Blackpool holidays are vibrantly revisited in John Taylor’s fondly

remembered travelogue, produced for British Transport Films

· London Me Bharat (1972, 20 mins): the first Hindi-language film made in Britain, presenting a distinctive and

sometimes surprising view of 1970s Britain

· Gallery - a selection of stills and documents from Gurinder Chadha's paper collection held at the BFI National