The Boy with the Topknot (2017)

One-off drama based on the critically acclaimed memoirs of British journalist Sathnam Sanghera. A touching, humorous and emotional rites-of-passage story.

Director:

Lynsey Miller

Writers:

Mick Ford, Sathnam Sanghera

Stars:

Sacha Dhawan, Deepti Naval, Anupam Kher

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sacha Dhawan	...	Sathnam
Deepti Naval	...	Sathnam's Mother
Anupam Kher	...	Sathnam's Father
Joanna Vanderham	...	Laura
Vineeta Rishi	...	Puli
Jaz Deol	...	Rajah
Anjli Mohindra	...	Bindi
Himmut Singh Datt	...	Young Sathnam (as Himmut Singh Dhatt)
Shaheen Khan	...	Aunt Sharanjit
Kriss Dosanjh	...	Uncle Mohinder
Aaron Thiara	...	Hardip
Ravin J. Ganatra	...	Dr. Dutta
Dinita Gohil	...	Kiran Chahal
Michael Shelford	...	Greg
Sharon Duncan-Brewster	...	Carol

Storyline

One-off drama based on the critically acclaimed memoirs of British journalist Sathnam Sanghera. A touching, humorous and emotional rites-of-passage story.

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Plot Keywords:

autobiographical | memoirs | based on real events | british asian | west midlands | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

British Broadcasting Corporation [United Kingdom]

Country:

UK

Language:

English Punjabi

Release Date:

8 November 2017 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Birmingham, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kudos Film and Television,Parti Productions,British Broadcasting Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The filming of Satnams parents house was in Shirley, Solihull not Wolverhampton.

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Goofs

When Satnam is taking his mother to the hospital, at first, his Mum isn't wearing her seatbelt. Then, after a cut, she suddenly is wearing it.

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Soundtracks

Intro
(uncredited)
Performed by The xx

User Reviews

Growing up

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.