Rentals

South Asian Britain on Film

Discover a rich history reaching back over a century as we celebrate South Asian communities and culture across Britain.

From local news to feature film, through home movies and TV documentaries, this collection showcases South Asian Britons in front of and behind the camera. The contribution of colonial troops is illuminated through the earliest newsreels, while hardhitting current affairs programmes highlight the struggles faced in the 1960s, 1970s and beyond. Public information films produced for South Asian audiences feature alongside Hindi-language films made in Britain and interviews with prominent Asian-British figures. A bold wave of British Asian filmmaking in the 1990s is represented through early works by the likes of Gurinder Chadha and Asif Kapadia.

Wild West Wild West

Comedy 1993 84 mins Director: David Attwood

Defying opposition from his conservative Pakistani family, Zaf Ayub dreams of becoming Southall's greatest gift to country & western.

Rent for £3.50

My Pure Land My Pure Land

Drama 2017 98 mins Director: Sarmad Masud

Britain's 2018 submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar was this Pakistan-shot western with a feminist twist, centring on a bitter land dispute between an extended family.

Currently unavailable

Oh for the Wings of a Dove Oh for the Wings of a Dove

Documentary 1972 28 mins Location: Balsall Heath

The vibrancy of rural Pakistan is transported to Balsall Heath, Birmingham in this intimate family portrait.

Rent for £2.50

A Private Enterprise A Private Enterprise

Drama 1975 72 mins Director: Peter K. Smith

The trials and tribulations of Shiv, a South Asian entrepreneur trying to set up a business in industrial Birmingham

Currently unavailable

This Question of Colour This Question of Colour

Documentary 1965 29 mins Director: William Brayne

Dcumentary about race relations in Britain from a US standpoint, including a report on the 1964 election in Smethwick.

Rent for £3.50

Catch Me Daddy Catch Me Daddy

Thriller 2015 112 mins Director: Daniel Wolfe and Matthew Wolfe

A young couple whose relationship has divided a community are forced on the run through the streets and moors of nocturnal Yorkshire.

Rent for £2.50

Bride & Prejudice Bride & Prejudice

Musical 2004 107 mins Director: Gurinder Chadha

Gurinder Chadha’s Bollywood retelling of Austen’s classic romance is an all-round joy, adding colour and song to Austen’s evergreen wit.

Rent for £3.50

Brothers in Trouble Brothers in Trouble

Drama 1996 103 mins Director: Udayan Prasad

Udayan Prasad's perceptive 1995 drama follows Amir (Pavan Malhotra), a Pakistani immigrant living in England and adjusting to his new life - including meeting an Irish girl who moves into his boarding house.

Rent for £3.50

East Is East East Is East

Comedy 1999 97 mins Director: Damien O'Donnell

Damien O'Donnell's charming comedy-drama about Zaheed Khan (Om Puri), the patriarch of a Pakistani-British family whose children begin to reject their heritage and embrace UK life.

Currently unavailable

Bhaji on the Beach Bhaji on the Beach

Comedy 1994 101 mins Director: Gurinder Chadha

Gurinder Chadha's charming and critically acclaimed comedy about a group of British Asian women from Birmingham who bond during a day-trip to Blackpool.

Rent for £3.50

Bend it Like Beckham Bend it Like Beckham

Sport 2002 112 mins Director: Gurinder Chadha

Gurinder Chadha’s smash hit about an Asian girl with an undying love for football.

Rent for £3.50

Viceroy's House Viceroy's House

Drama 2017 106 mins Director: Gurinder Chadha

Gurinder Chadha channels David Lean for this sweeping romance set during the last days of the Raj, with Hugh Bonneville and Gillian Anderson as Lord and Lady Mountbatten.