CHRISTMAS KARMA

Christmas Karma, directed by Gurinder Chadha, brings up the conversations about immigration, race, and belonging.

- PRAVEEN NAGDA

The film is a bold and confrontational narrative showing a mirror to the persistently prejudiced attitudes toward migrants and minorities in the UK as it adapts the book of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol.

British cinema has explored racial themes in various ways, but when a mainstream festive musical tackles them in such an open and brazen manner, it's a bit rare and can be difficult to digest for many. Chadha’s idea of anchoring this narrative in a compassionate and generous manner has turned a political story into a deeply emotional and universally resonant one.

The main protagonist is Eshaan Sood (Kunal Nayyar), who delivers a powerful performance as a wealthy Indian British businessman. His cold-hearted worldview has frozen over years of distrust, trauma, and privilege, making him an extremely ungrateful character who doesn’t value any relationship. Chadha’s decision to depict racism through the lens of a former immigrant is an example of compelling, gripping and engaging storytelling.