How ‘Blinded by the Light’ Brought Bruce Springsteen’s Music to the Screen for a Song

Blinded by the Light co-writer/director Gurinder Chadha knows firsthand what it feels like to be an outsider.

Born in Kenya when the country was a British colony, she grew up part of the Indian/Asian diaspora who made their way from East Africa to London.

For that reason, the 59-year-old’s movies has always dealt with the immigrant experience, and her latest is no different, telling the story of a Muslim Pakistani teenager growing up in Thatcher’s England whose narrowly structured life is saved when he’s turned on to the music of Bruce Springsteen during the late ‘80s National Front/dole queue era.

It serves as a poignant parallel to the xenophobia of today.Likewise, Chadha is a huge Springsteen fan, who pursued her dream of making a movie about The Boss’ music based on the true-life memoir of co-writer (and fellow diehard) Sarfraz Manzoor.

It took

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