Blinded by the Light

Blinded by the Light

Starring Viveik Kalra, Hayley Atwell, Kulvinder Ghir, Nell Williams

Directed by Gurinder Chadha

The Story:
In 1987, Javed Khan (Viveik Kalra) is living in Luton England, and desperately wants to get out.  He's the only son of Pakistani parents Malik (Kulvinder Ghir) and Noor (Meera Ganatra), and is ridiculed and mocked for his religion and race in a white nationalist England.  Javed's father finds himself out of a job, and his mother works extra hard at her sewing to provide for the family, and Javed is held to a high standard by his overbearing father when all he wants to do is write.

At school, his talent is picked up by Ms. Clay (Hayley Atwell), who encourages him to write and pursue his passion.  Javed then meets Roops (Aaron Phagura), who introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, and it seems to Javed that the music was made specifically for him.  He begins to emerge out of his shell, begins to write more, finds a girlfriend in activist Eliza (Nell Williams), and all the while hiding everything from his father who wouldn't approve.  As Javed's love for Springsteen grows, his confidence also grows and his life begins to take off in new and exciting ways - until his father threatens to pop his bubble.

The Synopsis:
Music has this extraordinary ability to affect the mood of a person, and bring people together.  Music transcends most things, and gives people purpose and ignites their own passions, and is extremely infectious.  Music is magical, and gives hope to the most hopeless of situations.  Gurinder Chadha (who also directed the excellent "Bend it Like Beckham") fully encompasses this belief in "Blinded by the Light," the true story of a young Pakistani man growing up in tumultuous 1987 England during a huge unemployment event that threatens the livelihood of everyone involved.  This young man - Javed - is living a rather bleak existence: he's never had a girlfriend, doesn't have many friends, and finds himself the target of racist attacks and taunts, and never stands up for himself due to living under the overbearing thumb of his Pakistani-proud father who holds steadfast to their traditions.  When Javed is introduced to the music of Bruce Springsteen, he begins to emerge from his shell, gain a voice, and make a difference that'll impact not just him, but his family as well.

"Blinded by the Light" is a beautiful story of the power of music, and the importance of making your voice heard no matter the cost.  The film is littered with Springsteen's hits, and each one speaks to Javed - and the audience - in a deeply personal way.  The music allows Javed to be his best self, and this opens the door for amazing opportunities he never thought he'd be able to achieve.  The film hits all the right notes at the right times, with an epic crescendo that hits you on a deeply emotional level that's easily the cherry on top of this most delicious sundae, a film that'll keep you smiling and toe-tapping throughout.

Each character is given their moment to shine, and each takes center stage like they're the main event. Viveik Kalra gives Javed a very personal, very nuanced performance that will have you cheering for the young lad as he finds his voice and his passion through Springsteen's music, and you can tell he has a deep emotional connection to his character.  At times it's like watching a documentary, until you see Springsteen's words flashing across the screen to really drive home its intended purpose for Javed and the audience as a whole.  You see the world Javed is forced to grow up in - a very devout, very ancestry-driven family life where the man of the house has all the say, and how Javed serves as the counter-culture for this type of belief - until he comes face-to-face with his own prejudices and realizes that you can blend the love of music with the love of family.

Hayley Atwell shines as Ms. Clay, the traditional English teacher trope who finds Javed's talent and helps him develop it.  Nell Williams admirably serves as Javed's girlfriend Eliza, but is also given a deeper story as an activist who helps draw Javed out of his shell.  Aaron Phagura plays Roops, Javed's school friend who indoctrinates him into the world of Springsteen and serves as the humor and heart of the film.

"Blinded by the Light" is more than just a celebration of the music of Springsteen, but is essentially a father-son relationship - and you need to have both actors at the top of their game to make it believable.  Kalra hits it out of the park, but surprisingly is eclipsed by Kulvinder Ghir, who plays his overbearing, devout father Malik.  It seems that he rules the family with an iron fist, a proud man who refuses to allow his son to be subjected to such filth music (while also in a humorous running gag keeps referring to Springsteen as Jewish) and who controls the finances of the family, but he also gives a deeper, personal performance as well.  When he looses his job, we see Ghir turn his performance from completely overpowering to faking it til he makes it, as he daily tries fruitlessly to find a job, and in one emotionally powerful scene, breaks down in front of his wife as he believes he's let the family down.  Javed and Malik come to blows several times throughout the film, as most fathers and sons do, and both actors work so well off one another it's almost like seeing a real father and son interacting, rebelling, and eventually reconciling in the most emotionally beautiful way.  All set to the tunes of the Boss, the ultimate counter-culture artist whose music transcends time and tells powerful stories all their own.

The Summary:
Set to the counter-culture music of Bruce Springsteen, "Blinded by the Light" shines in telling the story of a Pakistani family as they struggle through a depression-era 1987 England, showcasing tremendous talent and a story that hits all the right notes and will leave you with a smile on your face.

The Score: A+