A Private Enterprise

It could be the first British Asian Film(OR of Large British Asian Representation), which was produced by the British film institute(yes before my beautiful laundrette 1985) Gathering as it was made during the mass migration of South Asians into Britain, they produced this film for those who found it difficult in adapting into Britain. A portrayal of an Asian immigrant experience, dealing with issues of integration, in the backdrop of industrial Birmingham. The Script was written by Dilip Hiro who has written articles, and books. I cannot find this film anywhere, or find anyone who has seen it. The BFI may have the may copy of the film.

This is generally reckoned to be the first British-Asian film, though it has since largely been forgotten about. The film focuses on Shiv Verma (played by Salmaan Peerzada), an Indian immigrant living in Birmingham keen to start his own business and the story is largely taken up with his futile efforts to get this off the ground. Along the way he clashes with his traditionally-minded uncle and gets involved in a strike at the factory where he and many other Indian immigrants work. A chance encounter with an English girl (Diana Quick) on the train raises the prospect of romance, but it soon becomes clear that she is only interested in him as an exotic specimen of 'Indian-ness' and not as a person. Likewise Shiv is equally put off by the crass materialism of a rich Indian girl his uncle tries to set him up with.

The film provides an interesting look at what Britain was like in the 1970e, with the traditional industry on its last legs and labour relations heated and fractious. Surprisingly racism is not such an issue in the film, though it is hinted at at a few points. Despite this it is not all doom and gloom; there are some funny scenes in the film, such as when Shiv attempts to sell his ridiculous nodding-head elephant figurines, or when he attends an Indian spiritual meeting with a pseudo- profound guru at the behest of the English girl and is the only Indian there.

Overall this film is worth checking out for those with an interest in British and British-Asian film. Though not available on DVD it can be found on You Tube.