Bhaji on the Beach 1993

A community group of British women—mostly Punjabis of various faiths—across generations heads out for a day in Blackpool to take in the Illuminations. As they wander the stretch of lights, the film threads a quiet, observant look at the generation gap, showing how tradition and modernism pull in different directions while personal upsets and long-held tensions rise to the surface during their group outing.

At the heart of the day is Simi, the group’s steady, caring leader. Her modern feminist beliefs spark friction with the older club women, yet she remains a calm, in-control presence who holds the day together and tries to smooth over conflicts with empathy and resolve.

Ginder carries a heavy burden as she escapes an abusive criminal husband with her young son, fighting the stigma of being a single parent. Unbeknownst to them, her husband and his brothers have tracked them to Blackpool, adding a thread of danger and urgency to the otherwise social outing.

Two boy-crazy teenage girls bring a splash of youth and mischief, meeting with the disapproval of the more conservative elder women. The day shifts in mood when the group encounters a pair of American-themed burger-bar employees after their shifts, injecting a cheekier, lighter energy into the proceedings.

Hashida is a high-achieving student who is about to start medical school but would rather be painting. She has kept her Afro-Caribbean boyfriend, Oliver, hidden from her family for a year, and now their relationship faces a crisis as she discovers she is pregnant. The couple must weigh the future of the child and their bond against the social disapproval surrounding them.

Asha is a devout Hindu and Bollywood cinema enthusiast stuck in a routine life running a convenience shop. She discovers excitement and a sense of missed opportunities through a charming, eccentric English actor she encounters in Blackpool, yet she feels obligated to stay in her marriage. Her life is colored by frequent Bollywood-style daydreams and visions that blur the line between fantasy and reality.

In the end, many of the characters’ arcs remain open. We do not see definitive outcomes for [Asha], [Oliver], and [Hashida], and their final moments feel content yet unresolved. Ginder and her son manage to escape the violence of her husband after one of his brothers rebels against him, a turn that shifts the balance of power within their world. Meanwhile, the film treats the more conservative characters with a humorous brush, culminating in a strip-club scene that punctuates the day with a wry, cheeky note.