The importance of Polite Society

“I am the FURY”

Ria screams before jumping in the air and flopping unsuccessfully onto the ground, landing in a way that takes me back to the martial arts films I grew up with. 

“I grew up watching Jackie Chan”, Nida Manzoor, director of Polite Society tells me, “and so the influences from that can be seen in the film”. I mention how I see elements of Scott Pilgrim and Roald Dahl’s The Witches too. “It’s interesting you mention The Witches, because these are the things I watched growing up and so the influences are plentiful. There’s a scene with the aunties meeting in a circle which was influenced by The Sopranos. But a huge influence is Bollywood”.

That’s undeniable from the film - the exaggerated action, the silliness of the dramatics, the aesthetics and adornments are all brought from someone who admired Bollywood, “I remember seeing Devdas and how beautiful it was, dripping in gold, emerald and saffron”, Nida tells me when I bring up the perfectly staged dance with Maar Dala.

Nimra Bucha as Raheela and Priya Kansara as Ria Khan in polier society. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

There’s so much in this film that ignites something in you. Whether it’s from school, sibling relationships, teenage angst, future dreams, marriage or young friendships - there is something for most people. The interesting part is that South Asians take the lead in this. It’s a fun action film, with South Asian people.

I’ve always said that we don’t need to make a film about the culture, because that is just what exists when we are written about. It is part of us, so there doesn’t need to be an obvious point to it. 

“In this film, the culture is texture” Nida feels the same. “The story is about sisterhood, teen angst - universal things. It’s not about taking a magnifying glass to the culture. I want to have fun and my cinema does not always look at trauma - this story has darkness, but it’s a joyful story at the end.”

It’s easier said than done - the industry itself has kept these stories at bay. A lot of the South Asian films out there tend to cater to whiteness with the way in which we are portrayed. We fall in love with whiteness, cultural activities are mocked, accents are convoluted - these are tropes we see in most of what claims to represent us. But this film doesn’t allow space for it. The love interest is a South Asian boy, and not just that, but a narcissistic and manipulative mummy’s boy. We have been allowed to exist in the film without being a stereotype to whiteness. And that, unfortunately, is an achievement in film.

“When I first wrote this, they were trying to make the family white, or they wanted to add trauma, a forced marriage - there was a desire for that misery.” Nida tells me, when I ask how hard it was to get this film made. “It didn’t compute for people that you can have these characters in an action. I was a bit worried that this film couldn’t exist. When I came back to the script after Lady Parts, TV was opening up in a way before film had - it was taking more risks because of a lower budget. I feel the industry has changed to let me write this script as it is. It’s personal - it has my tone as well as my culture.”

Ritu Arya as Lena and Akshay Khanna as Salim in POLITE SOCIETY. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

Ria (played by Priya Kansara) is a strong character, with her perpetually arched eyebrow and stubborn attitude - she represents a lot of young people who want to fight in their rebellion. She wears a long ponytail, with strands of hair framing her face (the desi staple), and sports boxing gloves more times than I’ve touched a pair (not so desi), to really blend the lines in what our stereotypes suggest.

Lena (played by Ritu Arya) is an art school dropout, going through bouts of depression alongside her infuriating art block. Unsure on what to do with her life, she has relocated back home to frump about in oversized hoodies.

There’s Salim (played by Akshay Khanna - yes I got confused for a moment too), who is a rich and successful doctor, handsome with a kind and large smile. He’s hoping to get married, but goes on various dates that his mother sets up until he finds Lena.

And Salim’s mother, the Disney villain, Raheela (played by Nimra Bucha) is an exaggerated and also realistic portrayal of a proud mother, dripping in money and privilege, who is spending her days either having spa days in her mansion, or finding a wife for her son.

Watching the film, I saw myself in everyone. The rebellion in Ria, the art school depressive in Lena, the kind accepting Salim and the powerful Raheela. This is the film I needed growing up.

Seraphina Beh as Clara, Priya Kansara as Ria Khan and Ella Bruccoleri as Alba POLITE SOCIETY. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

“I made this for my teenage self - something that would have helped me walk through the world with more confidence. I want to tell young me that I am worth cinema, storytelling, you are worthy and should take up space” Nida tells me. “It empowered me to make the film - I do get to take up the centre stage. And with that, I want young people who often feel marginalised, to know they can do what they want.”

The drama and action in this film is well established as silly and exaggerated, allowing you to feel comfortable when Ria and Lena draw blood in a sibling rivalry. The dialogue is fast and exciting, the outfits are beautiful (no longer must we live in shame over the Patel’s awful shalwar kameez’s) and the twist is hilariously macabre.

“It was 20 years ago Bend It Like Beckham came out and we had a big hit in the cinema.” Nid tells me, sighing. 

I see Polite Society being a turning point in us seeing South Asians making a splash in cinema agan.