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Bollywood meets Dickens in *Christmas Karma*
Director Gurinder Chadha has reimagined Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol as a Bollywood-inspired musical, blending singing, dancing, and a modern take on Ebenezer Scrooge's redemption. Titled Christmas Karma, the film stars Kunal Nayyar as Mr. Sood-a contemporary Scrooge whose journey unfolds against a backdrop of British multiculturalism and festive traditions.
Chadha, known for Bend It Like Beckham (2002), described the project as a natural fusion of joy and music. "Bollywood is all about singing, dancing, joy," she told the BBC. "For me, a joyful Christmas film with those elements comes naturally." The ensemble cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Pixie Lott, Boy George, Danny Dyer, Charithra Chandran, Eva Longoria, and Billy Porter.
From Scrooge to Sood: A refugee's redemption
Unlike Dickens' miserly Scrooge, Mr. Sood is a Ugandan Asian refugee who arrived in the UK in 1972 after Idi Amin's expulsion order. The film explores his disdain for modern refugees-echoing his own forgotten past-until ghostly visitors (Longoria, Porter, and Boy George) force him to confront his trauma.
Chadha drew inspiration from a "Grinch-like" relative who criticized her family's Christmas celebrations, saying, "You're not white." She later realized his bitterness stemmed from childhood displacement. "He was carrying the trauma," she said, a theme mirrored in Sood's arc.
"The rich ones always forget their roots."
Bystander in Christmas Karma, commenting on Sood's hypocrisy
Political undertones and festive debates
Chadha wove contemporary politics into the script, written during lockdown. "It made sense to have Sood say slightly right-wing things," she noted, alluding to UK politicians with similar refugee backgrounds. Actor Leo Suter, who plays Sood's underpaid employee Bob Crachett, praised the film's balance: "It brings Dickens' core message-empathy over miserliness-into a nuanced discussion of migration and race in modern Britain."
Meanwhile, Hugh Bonneville (Jacob Marley's ghost) defended early Christmas releases: "I used to be a Scrooge about decorations, but now I embrace it-though some songs should stay banned until December." He also confirmed plans to see the new Paddington musical, calling it "equally timeless."
Bhangra carols and George Michael tributes
The soundtrack merges traditions: a Bhangra Christmas song, Priyanka Chopra Jonas' desi rendition of *Last Christmas*, and classic Bollywood energy. Pixie Lott (Mary Crachett) called it "everything you want in a Christmas film-laughs, tears, and a touch of introspection."
Kunal Nayyar, who plays Sood, rejected any real-life Scrooge comparisons: "I love Christmas! Indians celebrate all festivals beautifully." His co-star Bonneville, however, admitted to a past "Bah Humbug" phase-now softened by time.
What's next for Chadha
The director is also developing a Bend It Like Beckham sequel, though she's cautious: "I don't want to rush it. These are big boots to fill." Christmas Karma hits UK cinemas on 14 November.
