The Bend It Like Beckham director has done it again. In a gesture that makes Indian cinema's heart swell with pride, her iconic film about a girl who is determined to play football in the UK, has been selected as one of the films with a stamp being issued in its honour in the 'Great British Film Special Stamp Issue'.
The other globally-celebrated films which have also been issued as stamps along with Gurinder's films by the British government are A Matter Of Life & Death (1946), Lawrence Of Arabia (1962), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Chariots Of Fire (1981), Secrets & Lies (1996), A Colour Box (1935), The Night Mail (1936), Love On The Wing (1938), Spare Time (1939).
To have a film by an Indian director being selected for such a singular honour alongside such British classics, is a matter of great pride for India and its motley group of filmmakers who have made a global impact.
When contacted Gurinder Chadha was understandably over the moon.
Speaking exclusively to this writer Gurinder said, "This is awesome! My twitter page went crazy with so many people commenting in amazement and pride! I believe my film changed race relations in this country from an 'us and them' culture to more of an 'us and us' culture. The proof is right here in the Royal Mail collection."
Gurinder is now working on a musical version of Bend It Like Beckham. "It will hit the West End next year. It has been a brilliant creative experience for me working with West End musical royalty like Charles Heart. He is doing my lyrics and who also wrote Phantom Of The Opera. I am also working with multi-award winning producer Sonia Friedman who is riding high with Book of Mormon right now."
Curiously women directors still find it hard to break into big-time movie making.
Explaining the paucity of female directors Gurinder says, "It's still a male industry where they control the finances and distribution and so the female sensibility and audience are not always party to their consciousness, until a Bridesmaids comes along and everyone say. 'Oh, women go to the cinema too and can generate hit movies!' "
Gurinder's twins from her filmmaker husband Paul Mayeda Berges are growing up fast. "They will be 7 years old next month. It's hard to juggle family life with film making. You need a lot of support," says the proud mother.
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