Main content

Gurinder Chadha

Kirsty Young talks to film-maker, writer and producer Gurinder Chadha.

Kirsty Young's castaway is filmmaker Gurinder Chadha.

Writer, director and producer behind the films Bend it like Beckham, Bhaji on the Beach and Bride and Prejudice, she began her career as a 麻豆社 news reporter.

She was born in Kenya to Sikh parents and grew up in Southall in West London. Her political awakening came in her teens in the 1970s against the backdrop of the National Front and race riots in the capital. The bands she listened to, including the Clash, the Jam and the Specials, were fixtures at the Rock Against Racism concerts which galvanised her desire to make a difference.

Bend it Like Beckham, which launched the career of Keira Knightly, is now a hit musical on the West End stage. Her next film, Viceroy's House, tackles the Partition of India in 1947.

She was awarded an OBE in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to the British Film Industry.

Producer: Paula McGinley.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 27 Nov 2015 09:00
麻豆社 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon

Next

Sandi Toksvig

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Clip

Music Played

  • Petula Clark

    Downtown

    • The Best of Petula Clark.
    • Castled Communications.

  • Mohammed Rafi

    O Duniya Ke Rakhwale

    • Baiju Bawra - Shabab.
    • EMI.

  • The Clash

    (White Man) in Hammersmith Palais

    • The Essential Clash.
    • Columbia.

  • Mera Laung Gawacha

    • Star Crazy.
    • OSA.

  • CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE

    • Heer/Golden Moment

      • Bend it Like Beckham 聳The Musical.
      • Sony Classical.

  • Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

    Born To Run

    • Born to Run.
    • CBS.

  • Hubert Parry

    Jerusalem

    Performer: 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth. Performer: Royal Choral Society. Conductor: Richard Cooke.
    • The Last Night of the Proms Collection.
    • Philips.

  • Curtis Mayfield

    Move On Up

    • A Man Like Curtis 聳 The Best of Curtis Mayfield.
    • MCI Music.

  • BOOK CHOICE

    Heer Ranjha Translation by Professor Christopher Shackle

  • LUXURY ITEM

    Home movies of her children

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Gurinder Chadha
Producer Paula McGinley

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Nov 2015 11:15
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 27 Nov 2015 09:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast