I have been meaning to start a book and movie section at my personal blog; aimed particularly towards Sikhs of Punjabi descent, who make up over half of my blog’s audience. Over and over Sikhs have had to watch themselves depicted in Western, and also Bollywood, films and this causes a whole lot of uproar. One film, “Bend It Like Beckham” showed what many would say is a typical UK Sikh family in diaspora. Many Sikh men who wear turbans drink cocktails and many Sikh families have pictures of Guru Nanak on their walls, but many other stricter Sikhs do not do these things. They do not drink alcohol or set up idols and altars for Sikh saints. For many Sikhs their scripture is their ONLY guide and guru.

“Brick Lane” therefore hits me as the ideal book and movie for Sikhs to read, watch and discuss because it is about Muslims. It is about Muslims but it covers the same issues faced by all those who immigrate West from India. “Brick Lane” may give enough distance for Sikhs to discuss “assimulation issues” calmly.

Here are trailers for “Bend It For Beckham” – notice how sex is used to sell the movie especially in the second trailer. This also shocks and worries many Sikhs.