Classics:Gurinder Chadha's "Bend it like Beckham"

Gurinder Chadha's Bend it like Beckham(2002) is a comedy set in Hounslow, West London. It portrays the revolt of a Punjabi girl Jesminder "Jess" Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) against the dictates of tradition and doctrines of custom to pursue her dream. Her spirit to play football is an assertion of her space. Talented as she is, she aspires for flexibility in her approach to life. Not to adjust to situations, but to possess the capability to change situations .It is this flexibility that is highlighted with the title of the movie "Bend it Like Beckham". Towards the end, her father Mr.Bhamra(Anupam Kher)supports her in her endeavour, as he had encountered a similar situation in his life. He meekly adopted to the circumstances then. Here, Jess tries to adapt the situations in accordance with her needs. Life is too invaluable for compromises, the movie echoes. Jess's success not only lies in her achieving her dreams towards the end, but in managing to beak through the barriers of stereotype and convention.

To a mother who finds her tomboyish image appalling, the end point for a girl was to get married and make round chapattis. The mindset of the Indian tradition is underlined as the video man at the wedding says : Don't smile. Indian bride never smiles. You'll ruin the bloody video." Or Jasminder's own preconceived notions as she comes to know of Tony's sexual inclination:"But you are Indian." The hypocrisy of the same is set apart with Jasminder's sister's clandestine sexual life. The conservative nature of the English families are set at a parallel as "Jules" Paxton (Keira Knightley) is constantly feared to be a lesbian by her mother Paula. Paula's ruminations regarding the same are hilarious with constant references to popular celebrities like George Michael and Martina Navratilova. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times stated that the film "was really full of easy humor, an impeccable sense of milieu that is the result of knowing the culture intimately enough to poke fun at it while understanding its underlying integrity."

The football game is not only a challenge, it is also a celebration, as it is placed side by side later with Archie's marriage. The scenes shuttle between both of these celebrations. It dissolves the boundaries of racism as an Indian girl plays in the English team trained by an Irish coach .It erases the hatred between Jess and Jules that arose out of their attraction for the same person, Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers).Also, football being a man's game ,can be played by woman well enough to 'bend it like Beckham'. The game also unites worldly considerations and religious reflections as Jess exclaims:" I didn't ask to be good at football, Gura Nanak must have blessed me."