India`s Gurinder Chadha tackles migration with humor

Panaji: Gurinder Chadha, the director behind the hit "Bend it Like Beckham," is one of a trio of Indian-origin women directors wowing the world with their unique style. But unlike Deepa Mehta or Mira Nair, Chadha makes films with a distinctly earthy feel.Whether it was "Beckham" or "Bhaji on the Beach," the London-based Chadha has explored themes of migration and cultural identity with a healthy dose of humor.

Chadha, 49, spoke to Reuters recently, on the sidelines of the 40th International Film Festival of India, where a retrospective of her films is being screened, about why her movies appeal to migrants everywhere, and not just Indians. Q: All your films have an Indian vibe. What kind of a reaction do you get from Indian audiences? A: "Depends on the films, but generally speaking, it is a very affectionate feeling toward me and my films. Maybe it is the Punjabi nature of me and my films, but they have always given me a lot of love." Q: How Punjabi are you and how British? A: "I don`t know if I could divide that. I think I am Punjabi in a British way and very British in a Punjabi way. I am Indian, but also very British. I am part of the diaspora and I produce creative work which comes out of me being part of the diaspora. My ancestors originate from Jhelum and Rawalpindi (in Pakistan), then my family went to Kenya and now I live in England. All of this creates a very interesting cultural context." Q: What does that cultural context bring to your style of filmmaking? A: "That`s the essence of what my films are. My films are complete combinations. No else can make my kind of films -- an Indian can`t make them, a British person can`t make them, only I can make them. It is also partly about how I choose the film, how I put the stories together, everything. You can`t decipher one moment." Q: Your films are seen as tailor-made for the Indian diaspora. Do you agree with that? Is that your biggest audience? A: "Well, it is a large part of my audience. But it isn`t just Indians. It is the culture of diaspora and that`s what attracts them. Most cities in the world have very mixed populations, so my films work in those kinds of cities for sure." Q: It is said about Indians abroad that they watch so many Indian films because they have a greater connection with their motherland than Indians in India. Do you agree? A: "I think it`s not so much about a longing for the motherland; it`s more about the language. We enjoy seeing films in our languages, we love the music and dance. But I think people are comfortable living where they are, but it is culturally interesting to keep the language alive, as opposed to a hankering after the motherland, as it is made out to be." Q: Tell us about your latest film A: "My next film is called `It`s a Wonderful Afterlife` with Shabana Azmi. I can`t really talk much about it because Studio 18 is distributing it in India and they have big plans. I will say that it is a different genre for me. It`s the world of `Bend it Like Beckham`, but in a different genre. It is very entertaining, and I also think that it is one of the most proficiently made films." Bureau Report