The Buddha of Suburbia (TV serial)
| The Buddha of Suburbia | |
|---|---|
.jpg) DVD cover | |
| Based on | The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi |
| Screenplay by |
Hanif Kureishi Roger Michell |
| Directed by | Roger Michell |
| Starring |
Naveen Andrews Roshan Seth Susan Fleetwood Steven Mackintosh |
| Theme music composer | David Bowie |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Kevin Loader |
| Cinematography | John McGlashan |
| Editor(s) | Kate Evans |
| Running time | 55-60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | BBC Films |
| Distributor | BBC |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two |
| Picture format | 14:9 |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 3 November – 24 November 1993 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The Buddha of Suburbia is a 1993 British four-part television serial, directed by Roger Michell. Based on the novel of the same name by Hanif Kureishi, the programme starred Naveen Andrews as the main character, Karim Amir. The programme's music was written and performed by David Bowie.
Unable to find distribution in America, the series was given a limited engagement screening at The Public Theater in Manhattan from December 1994 to January 1995.[1]
Overview
Karim Amir is a mixed-race 17-year-old who lives in a South London suburb during the 1970s. With an English mother and a Pakistani father, Karim is uncertain of his cultural identity. As his father becomes a kind of spiritual guru to the surrounding middle-class neighbours, Karim begins to explore his cultural roots with hopes that he will achieve sexual and racial self-realisation.
Cast
- Naveen Andrews as Karim Amir
- Roshan Seth as Haroon Amir
- Susan Fleetwood as Eva Kay
- Steven Mackintosh as Charlie Kay
- Brenda Blethyn as Margaret Amir
- Harish Patel as Changez
- Nisha K. Nayar as Jamila
- David Bamber as Shadwell
- John McEnery as Uncle Ted
- Vicky Murdoch as Helen
- David Bradley as Helen's Father
- Jemma Redgrave as Eleanor
- Richard Leaf as Photographer
- Amanda Root as First TV Producer
- Mark Strong as Second TV Producer
Production
Filming
Segments for the series were filmed at Naveen Andrews' old school Emanuel School. The extras used in the series were real punks, skinheads, suedeheads, hippies, and musicians cast by actress Barbie Wilde.[2]
Music
The series features many songs from the seventies as well as music written and performed specifically for the series by David Bowie. While an album classified as the series' soundtrack was released on 8 November 1993, the tracks on the album are significantly reworked.[3] The primary song that remains the same on the soundtrack album is the programme's theme song "The Buddha of Suburbia". A promotional music video was made for the song, featuring Bowie performing the song while strolling around an English suburb as scenes from the series are intercut throughout.[4]
References
- ↑ O'Connor, John J. (29 December 1994). "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Is the BBC Too Adult For American Viewers?". The New York Times. p. 2. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ↑ Keehnen, Owen. "Wilde Thing or Cenobite Barbie: Barbie Wilde Tells All". Racks and Razors. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ↑ Bowie, David. The Buddha of Suburbia liner notes (BMG International, 1994) (available at Bassman's David Bowie page)
- ↑ David Bowie (1993). Buddha of Suburbia (Music Video). EMI. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
External links
- The Buddha of Suburbia at the Internet Movie Database
- British Film Institute Screen Online
- The Buddha of Suburbia at the British Library - includes related articles, videos and items from Kureishi's archive