Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bollywood Queen (2002)
Director: Jeremy Wooding
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Has the increasing success of British Asian music laid the groundwork for its film equivalent? Bollywood Queen appears game for it: a mixed-race modern romance unravelling in the streets of Shoreditch and Whitechapel, adapted from a well-received 1999 short, Sari and Trainers. Reprising the central role of Geena, a mobile-toting college girl who dreams of movies and R&B fame, is Kalidas, a supporting player in Bend It Like Beckham, and a West End star in Lloyd Webber's musical Bombay Dreams. Here, though, she's a surprisingly stilted heroine, making it hard to believe her immediate bond with sweet-faced Somerset naif Jay (McAvoy). For all its cross-cultural references, the film actually treads gingerly around issues of racism and sexuality. That's not to deny its diverting moments. But quaint shots of the capital and the countryside suggest this is designed for overseas Anglophiles; and the generally ropey lighting, flimsy characterisation and so-so song-and-dance can't be excused by 'low budget charm'.Author: AHa
Cast & crew
Director: Jeremy Wooding
Producer: Michael Lionello Cowan, Jason Piette, Jeremy Wooding, Michelle Turner
Cast: Preeya Kalidas, James McAvoy, Ciarán McMenamin, Ray Panthaki, Kat Bhathena, Karen Shenaz David, Amerjit Deu, Ronny Jhutti full cast
Duration: 90 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing






What do you think?
Post your review now