Conversations with BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
A Q&A with Gurinder Chadha (Director), Sarfraz Manzoor (Author/Screenwriter) and Aaron Phagura (Roops). Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Variety.
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 is a joyful story of courage, love, hope, family and the unique ability of music to lift the human spirit. The film 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 (Kulvinder Ghir). But when a classmate (Aaron Phagura) introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in the 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.
Inspired by a true story, based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll, “Blinded by the Light” was directed by Gurinder Chadha from a screenplay written by Manzoor, Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges.
