Blinded by the Light is a 2019 British comedy-drama film directed by Gurinder Chadha. It is based on the memoir by Sarfraz Manzoor titled "Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N' Roll". The film follows Javed (played by Viveik Kalra), a British-Pakistani teenager who is growing up in the small town of Luton in 1987. He dreams of escaping his town, his traditional family, and his oppressive father's expectations.
Everything changes when Javed's friend Roops (played by Aaron Phagura) introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen. Suddenly, Javed finds himself relating to the lyrics of Springsteen's songs, which articulate the working-class struggles and dreams he thought were unique to him. With newfound inspiration, Javed starts writing his own poetry and songs which resonates with the experience of his life.
As Javed becomes more and more enamored with Springsteen's music, he also becomes more entrenched in his independence from his family's strict rules. Meanwhile, economic difficulties and racial tensions make the world outside his family just as difficult to navigate. The film explores themes of cultural identity, generational conflict, romance, and the power of music to unite people.
Blinded by the Light was praised for its heartwarming story, its performances, and its vibrant musical numbers. It received a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival and was named one of the top 10 films of 2019 by the American Film Institute.