This film is part of Free
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_480x270/public/hero-images/d6ab00e07c83d5e3095ff8f32d66a5b5_0.jpg?itok=-RskBSuT)
Asian Arranged Marriages
Janet Street-Porter investigates traditional arranged marriages in the young Asian community of the 70s
Overview
Janet Street Porter investigates the Asian tradition of arranged marriages through the case of Jan, a young Sikh woman breaking away from her family and their traditional Asian values. In this frank documentary, Jan and Janet get to the root of some common contradictions faced by first and second generation British Asians. The articulate Jan proves an engaging interviewee, smashing sensible Asian girl stereotypes.
Arranged marriages - a source of intergenerational conflict for Asian communities and of perennial fascination for others - were a common theme in TV explorations of Asian issues in the 1970s and 80s. Jan's parents came here in the late 50s from north India. She is a twentysomething solicitor, born and bought up in England. Her parents' views are at odds with her own so she decides to leave home. Jan wants the freedom to wear her own choice of clothes, let her hair down, go to the pub, drink and play darts. What she doesn't want is a marriage arranged for her by her parents. This timeless documentary explores very pertinent questions: what are arranged marriages, how do they factor in a young Asian woman's life and how can she balance a life between two cultures?
Related
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo259862683.jpg?itok=6tqEuPW3)
The Bradford Godfather The Bradford Godfather
1976 49 mins Location: Bradford
Meet Mohamed Fazal Hussain, elder statesman and all-round Mr Fixit of Bradford's Muslim community, and a film mogul in the making...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/4a2b3450bd6dd202b71a3aac730604d6_0.jpg?itok=Nst_vWGW)
The Referee The Referee
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1976 4 mins
Wrestling as a metaphor for race relations in this short aimed at Britain's South-Asian community
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/309c5376cc982ac1d63a46860fff3ffa_0.jpg?itok=8UzE-vH_)
Asian Pub Landlord Asian Pub Landlord
News 1968 2 mins Location: Newbridge
Mr Dhanjal from Wolverhampton: custodian of one of the most vital positions in any community.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo257773542.jpg?itok=avlt5Ofi)
Oriental Atmosphere Oriental Atmosphere
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Woking
Britain's oldest mosque welcomes a vast crowd of worshippers, visitors, curious onlookers and the odd newsreel camera!
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/aa6e49c1751a2efaddeb926a26f1dc63_0.jpg?itok=tvdH2kYL)
Gandhi in England British Screen News No. 335 Gandhi in England British Screen News No. 335
Non-Fiction 1931 2 mins Silent
Mahatma Gandhi's arrival in England for the second India Round Table Conference at St James's Palace
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/N_218667_01of01.jpg?itok=xH1YZTSC)
Sikh Matron Sikh Matron
Magazine and Review show 1985 8 mins Location: Kinver
From the temple to the hospital Kartar Singh is a leading practitioner of Sikhism.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Shoot-Your-Shot-02.jpg?itok=KREdlpBS)
Shoot Your Shot Shoot Your Shot
Drama 2022 12 mins
An emotional stand-off takes flight, as teen best friends Ronit and Brennan come to terms with navigating that fuzzy feeling in their stomachs, all whilst learning to skateboard.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/%25E2%2580%258ELook-Like-You-02.jpeg?itok=2R3w9luT)
Look Like You Look Like You
Drama 2022 13 mins
While visiting the adoptive family of her eight-year-old biological son, Tara relays advice she gathered from growing up as a queer outcast.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Yellow-04.jpg?itok=Bt5NDkC8)
Yellow Yellow
Drama 2023 13 mins
In Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Laili walks into a Chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full body veil from a Talib shopkeeper and face a new future.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/NEHEMICH-02.jpg?itok=ba9fjUy4)
Nehemich Nehemich
Drama 2023 23 mins
Banished in a dilapidated village hut during her menstruation, a young girl waits to elope with her lover.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/1717526943-default-ovp-poster-image.jpg?itok=Fk8VLsGa)
Interview with Pam Cullen Interview with Pam Cullen
Inside Film 2020 53 mins
Interview with Pam Cullen who at 97 boasts an incredible career spanning over fifty years in the Indian film industry.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/muscleqanda.jpg?itok=8sw22r7R)
Muscle - Exclusive Q&A Muscle - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 34 mins
Director Gerard Johnson talks Nia Child through the making of Muscle, an adrenalized drama that tears into the stereotypes of masculinity and male friendship.