The Boy with the Topknot is adapted from journalist Sathnam Sanghera's memoirs. A Wolverhampton tale of a second generation immigrant who arrogantly thinks he has made his way in life and love on his own terms
Sathnam (Sacha Dhawan) is a Cambridge University graduate, a journalist and in love with a young white girl. She wants to him to tell about her to his parents. He is reluctant and ends up losing the girl and eventually his job.
Sathnam's mother (Deepti Naval) wants him to marry a nice Punjabi girl. Sathnam never realised what exactly was wrong with his father (Anupam Kher) and why he did not work. His father developed schizophrenia. As he delves further into his family history he discovers that his mum had little choice as to who he married and that her husband had a mental illness which would sporadically result in violent outbursts.
Maybe because this drama is condensed into a 90 minute film it never really got underneath the surface. A drama of a journalist who never uncovered his family's secrets. He could not even speak Punjabi. When he finally communicates in a heartfelt manner to his mum, it falls on deaf ears, she can never understand his desperate pleas.
