"Once the movie starts, I make it for myself. The film has to be your own."
Gurinder Chadha
Gurinder Chadha is a British movie director, of Sikh, Indian origins. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya and moved to Southall, England when she was two years old.
Her career first started as a radio presenter and built up to becoming a film director, in 1988. Gurinder's goal was to deliver the message of equality between different races. She recognized how important this message was and how powerful being behind a camera was to deliver this message to the world.
She had first wanted to be a long distance lorry driver because she could drive on without having to notice customs, rules and traditions, it was her definition of freedom. This idea is brought across in many of her films too, the sense of freedom away from the barriers holding you in.
Since then she has become an award-winning film director and has produced many movies, most with British-Asian themes. Such as:
Her career first started as a radio presenter and built up to becoming a film director, in 1988. Gurinder's goal was to deliver the message of equality between different races. She recognized how important this message was and how powerful being behind a camera was to deliver this message to the world.
She had first wanted to be a long distance lorry driver because she could drive on without having to notice customs, rules and traditions, it was her definition of freedom. This idea is brought across in many of her films too, the sense of freedom away from the barriers holding you in.
Since then she has become an award-winning film director and has produced many movies, most with British-Asian themes. Such as:
- Bride and Prejudice
- Bhaji on the Beach
- Bend It Like Beckham
- It's a Wonderful Afterlife
Inspiration for Bend It Like Beckham:
Gurinder Chadha was inspired to create this film because one of her friends was interested in soccer. Her friend came up with an idea, about and Indian girl who loved soccer. Gurinder added a British family and the idea of an Indian wedding into the mix.
The rest of the film was auto-biographical. The culture and geographical aspects are specific to the area she grew up in, West London. Jess' situation was very similar to Gurinder Chadha's life at home, she was expected to marry a nice Indian man, learn how to cook and wear nice Indian clothes but she didn't want to, like Jess. She also, bent the rules to get what she wanted, as most of the other Indian children did, that lived in her area.
The title came about because of the idea Gurinder's friend had, had for a film, and because soccer is a huge part of English culture. David Beckham is one of the most popular soccer players in England and is well known for being able to bend the ball to kick a goal. Gurinder thought about this and came up with the idea of bending the rules of culture, like bending a soccer ball into the goal. This was a metaphor for Jess' football dream, that she didn't have to break away from culture but bend around it to achieve her dream.
The rest of the film was auto-biographical. The culture and geographical aspects are specific to the area she grew up in, West London. Jess' situation was very similar to Gurinder Chadha's life at home, she was expected to marry a nice Indian man, learn how to cook and wear nice Indian clothes but she didn't want to, like Jess. She also, bent the rules to get what she wanted, as most of the other Indian children did, that lived in her area.
The title came about because of the idea Gurinder's friend had, had for a film, and because soccer is a huge part of English culture. David Beckham is one of the most popular soccer players in England and is well known for being able to bend the ball to kick a goal. Gurinder thought about this and came up with the idea of bending the rules of culture, like bending a soccer ball into the goal. This was a metaphor for Jess' football dream, that she didn't have to break away from culture but bend around it to achieve her dream.