Bhaji On The Beach Blu-Ray

A day trip to Blackpool to see the lights offers a harmless break from routine for a minibus full of women from the Saheli Asian Women's Centre.

Everything seems innocent enough, but when the minibus rolls along to a Punjabi version of Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday, the problems quickly become apparent. Ginder is fleeing her violent husband with her five-year-old son. Hashida is eighteen, about to start medical school, and has just discovered she is pregnant by her boyfriend. The teenage sisters Madhu and Ladhu, with no parents in sight, are on the hunt for a man! Asha discovers that there is life and, yes, romance beyond the confines of the shop counter. And the judgmental Pushpa faces her day of reckoning when she meets some male strippers.

Gurinder Chadha's directorial debut of Meera Syal's witty and observant screenplay is an uplifting comedy and a tribute to the enduring bond between women.

Extras

Presented in high definition

I'm British But... (1989, 30 min): a short film by Gurinder Chadha that reveals a defiant culture among British Asian sisters and brothers to the rhythms of bhangra and bangla music. Includes optional introduction by activist and presenter Shani Dhanda

A Nice Arrangement (1991, 11 min): a short comedy directed by Gurinder Chadha and written by Meera Syal about the rituals before the ceremony in an arranged marriage.

First Film of Blackpool (c1898, 3 min): early film footage of Blackpool from the BFI National Archive.

Holiday (1957, 18 min): The holiday joy of 1950s Blackpool is vividly recreated in John Taylor's memorable travelogue, produced for British Transport Films.

London Me Bharat (1972, 20 min): the first Hindi-language film made in Britain, offering a distinctive and sometimes surprising picture of 1970s Britain.

Gallery – a selection of stills and documents from Gurinder Chadha's paper collection held in the BFI National Archive

**FIRST EDITION ONLY** Illustrated brochure with director's commentary, new essays on the film by Kohinoor Sahota and Jessica Boyall, and new texts on A Nice Arrangement and London Me Bharat by Rachel Pronger.