![blinded by the light glee blinded by the light glee](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OzvcRvg7fG8/maxresdefault.jpg)
Aaron Phangura ( Doctor Who) as Roops, Javed’s friend that introduces him to Springsteen, is decent despite low screentime, so their friendship is largely unexplored. Hayley Atwell ( Agent Carter) as English teacher Ms Clay adds a required dose of the Dead Poets Society (1989) style inspiration Javed needs, recognising his talent and insisting he was “Born To Run”, encouraging him to pursue a career as a writer. An activist and girlfriend of Javed, her character receives the most development out of the side characters and their relationship never feels disingenuous. Nell Williams ( Game of Thrones) is as sweet as Eliza as she was playing a young Cersei Lannister. However, it would have been nice if Chadha dived into Ghie’s motivations deeper to explain his actions. He also had a rough relationship with his father whilst he was a child. He never serves as a villain to Javed, merely as a roadblock, making sure his son chooses the right path. His performance is both heartfelt and hilarious, humanising the character, and you feel the tension he adds to any scene he shares with his son. The father (Kulvinder Ghie) is wonderfully written, despite filling many stereotypes of a conventional South Asian patriarch. Javed’s mother Noor (Meera Ganatra) is patient and empathetic towards her son, whereas his older sister Shazia (Nikita Metha) is the typical sibling who isn’t afraid to give Javed much needed perspective when called for. The performances from the rest of the family are charming if a little forgettable. Both Javed and Springsteen are the heart and soul of Blinded By the Light and it’s a testament to Karla’s ability and positive energy that he grabs the hearts of the audience as much as Springsteen lyrics. He wears the attitude like he wears sleeveless flannel shirts and denim jackets, but remains charming enough that he can remain a quiet outsider.
![blinded by the light glee blinded by the light glee](https://www.framerated.co.uk/frwpcontent/uploads/2019/07/blindedlight04.jpg)
Kalra captures Javed’s journey as he gains the confidence the more he listens to Springsteen. In some scenes it’s obvious he lacks experience as he delivers his lines quite flat, but his sincerity and boldness propel his performance onward. His performance is endearing and he’s perfectly suited for the timid, ingenious Javed. As a relative newcomer with only a few credits next to his name, the actor sustains off-the-charts likability with acting chops to match. To quote ‘The Boss’, “You can’t start a fire without a spark”, and Viveik Karla is that spark. The lyrics prove to be the exact escapism and uplifting motivation Javed needs and, as he finds his own self-confidence, he chases the girl of his dreams, Eliza (Nell Wiliams), whilst pursuing his own ambitions. Javed’s life is turned upside down when rebellious classmate Roops (Aaron Phagura) introduces him to the thumping music of Bruce Springsteen. His Pakistani parents insist he follows the family’s expectations of a career in law or medicine, instead of becoming a writer. Taking place in 1987, 16-year-old Javed (Viveik Kalra) is a sweet and sensitive soul who craves something beyond the life-draining borders of Luton, England. Blinded By the Light marks a return to form for her. Adapting the memoir “Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll” by author Sarfraz Manzoor (who also co-wrote this script), Chadha injects the same humanising element she brought to her previous features.
![blinded by the light glee blinded by the light glee](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iOkE_up3puM/maxresdefault.jpg)
She always gives a unique and honest perspective of someone with Asian heritage growing up in a western culture. It’s been nearly 20 years since Chadha broke out with Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and the British-Asian director has never been able to replicate that success. A lively crowd-pleaser that’s a charming ode to teenage dreams and a loving tribute to Bruce ‘The Boss’ Springsteen. Now, standing as both a touching coming-of-age story and a jukebox musical, writer-director Gurinder Chadha delivers Blinded by the Light. We’ve already seen Taron Egerton’s Academy Award-worthy performance as Elton John in Rocketman (2019), before Danny Boyle’s Yesterday (2019) gave us the timeless classics of The Beatles. This year has delivered fantastic movies where a musician or band’s discography has served as a narrative focal point.