Video files - Available DVDs
Anita and Me (2002) - Comedy/Drama
The movie is set in a mining village in England in 1972. It’s the story of an Indian family who migrated to Britain in search of a better life for their daughter, Meena. The family lives peacefully until Anita Rutter arrives in their neighbourhood. In an attempt to imitate the lifestyle of the attractive blond girl, Meena gets herself into trouble. The older characters in this film speak Indian English.
Bhaji On the Beach (1993) - Comedy/Drama
A group of Indian women now settled in England decide to hire a bus and take a day off on the beach. This is a day that none of them will forget and even will cherish all their lives. In this film you find examples of Indian English and Standard British English.
Brick Lane (2003) - Comedy/Drama
The movie tells the story of Nazneen, a Bangladeshi girl who leaves for London for an arranged marriage at the age of 17. She tries to accept her life, but soon realizes that destiny cannot be forced. This film provides a good impression of Indian and Bangladeshi English.
Bride and Prejudice (2004) - Comedy/Drama/Musical/Romance
Set in Northern India, the Punjab, Lalita, the protagonist, lives with her parents and sisters in Amritsar. Their mother is determined to get them married off to respectable suitors. Lalita meets the handsome American business man, William Darcy, but she resists his advances because she considers him arrogant and proud with a closed mind towards the Indian culture. The varieties you find here are Indian English, British English and American English.
Gandhi (1982) - Biography/Drama/History
Mahatma Gandhi, the protagonist, travels to South Africa as a lawyer. He experiences discrimination for being an Indian and decides to start a non-violent protest campaign for the rights of Indians in South Africa. He finally succeeds and is subsequently invited back to India, where he is now regarded as a national hero. His countrymen urge him to fight for India’s independence from the British Empire. Gandhi agrees and starts a passive resistance campaign of unprecedented scale. This film features Indian English as well as South African English.
Kick it like Beckham (2002) - Comedy/Drama/Sports
The film is about an 18-year-old Punjabi girl named Jess who lives in London with her parents and works at Heathrow Airport. She is infatuated with football but her parents don’t allow her to play because she is a woman. However, she secretly joins a football team and plays behind their backs. She travels to Hamburg for a football competition and falls in love with her attractive Irish coach Joe. Indian English and London English are used in this film.
Monsoon Wedding (2001) - Comedy/Drama/Romance
This film directed by Mira Nair depicts a clash of cultures and identities when the members of two Indian families get together in New Delhi to celebrate the wedding of Aditi to Hemant – arranged by Aditi’s father. During the celebrations all sorts of conflicts within the two families come to light. Most characters speak Indian or American Indian English, and there is also code-switching.
Salaam Bombay (1988) - Crime/Drama
This film depicts the story of a young homeless boy who lives on the streets of Bombay and earns his living by selling tea. Mira Nair’s debut film provides fascinating insights into the life of India’s lower social classes and offers a very good impression of Indian English.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - Drama/Romance
This film is set in India. A Mumbai teenager who grew up in the slums becomes a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” He is arrested under the suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers. Indian English is used in this film.
The Namesake (2006) - Drama
The film is set in the USA and portrays the life of Gogol, son of Indian immigrants, who wants to live like his fellow New Yorkers. His parents, however, are unwilling to abandon their traditional Indian lifestyle and this creates tensions within the family. Gogol’s parents speak Indian English whilst the protagonist, portrayed by Kal Penn, and his girlfriend use American English. There are also many instances of code-switching.
These and other videos are available at GB 6/29.
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