Bollywood Queen

Plot

Geena (Preeya Kalidas) is a Bollywood fanatic from a respectable Gujarati family. She has finished school, and is at university doing a business studies course. She is dating Dilip (Ronny Jhutti), an ambitious computer whizz, but wants her love life to be like it is in the movies. However, Dilip only wants sex. Geenas family owns Ganesh Global, a clothing company which imports materials and saris from India. Geena has a part-time job working in the shop. She is also in a secret band with two other girls, Anjali (Kat Bhathena) and Neeta (Karen David).

Jay (James McAvoy) is a young Scottish boy, who joins his brother Dean (Ciaran McMenamin) in London, who also works in the clothing industry, for someone called Frank (Ian McShane). He owns a guitar, of which he is extremely protective.

One day, when Geena is walking along the road, Jay and his brother happen to be managing some poles. One of the poles nearly falls on Geena, but Jay lunges at her and pushes her out of the way before it can crush her. Geena, disgusted at this, hurries along, leaving her phone behind. Jay sees the phone and takes it, but his brother Dean repossesses it. Jay then takes the phone back and gives it to Geena, who then thanks him for saving her life. She then gives him her phone number, and they begin to meet up regularly.

The two start to fall in love, meeting up in secret regularly and hiding from Geenas family. However, Dean comes to know of the affair and launches an attack on Ganesh Global. One of Geenas brothers also sees the two together, and Geena gets into trouble with her family. Her brother then takes away her phone. Geenas brothers then beat Jay up, leaving him bleeding. Jay and Geena then run away together and escape their family. Dean is in hospital, and Jay visits him and takes away all his money.

Eventually, Jay and Geena return to London and Jay settles his dispute with his father and brother. Geena then turns up for her relatives wedding, dressed in Indian attire, and sings with her band. She then attempts to reunite with her family, and it is revealed her brother, Sanjay (Amerjit Deu) is a criminal, and is handling illegal suits, and that her brother, Tariq (Saraj Chaudhry) is gay. Jay and Geena then leave in the bride and grooms carriage, and her mother says to her father, "Shell be back."

Cast

Reception

The film was not very well received by the public, both English and Asian communities. It received mostly negative reviews from critics.

Awards and nominations

British Independent Film Awards