ITV is streaming home-grown, British South Asian independent feature film ‘Little English’, free to view on ITVX. Recently nominated for ‘Best Film’ at the National Film Awards. Little English is Writer/Director, Pravesh Kumar’s debut feature, which follows the story of Punjabi newlywed Simmy, who unexpectedly faces disappointment when her husband-to-be does a runner. She finds an unlikely ally in her wayward brother-in-law, Harry, and a secret romance blossoms!
Following a successful cinema release in 2023, where it reached number 35 in the UK Box Office, thanks to touring support from the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, the film has been out on pay per view platforms in the UK since December and is set to be released on OTT Platforms in the US later this year.
Despite being made on a micro budget and a lack of support from traditional cinema distributors, Central City Media picked up the film and have supported the producers Resource Productions to get it out to an under-served diaspora market. Now with the support of ITV the film can finally be seen free to view in the UK, enabling everyone to watch this entertaining slice of rarely seen British Asian life.
Asians make up the second largest ethnic percentage of the UK population and Indian cinema regularly tops the UK Box Office. Perhaps this acquisition heralds a move towards broadcasters and streamers recognising the economic potential of this global majority diaspora and its loyal audiences.
Darren Nartey, Senior Acquisitions Manager, ITV said:
We are proud to include Little English in our celebration of South Asian Heritage Month on ITVX, when users can enjoy a wide selection of films and shows that showcase the incredible cultures of this diaspora.
Writer/Director Pravesh Kumar said:
When we made this film at the end of the pandemic, it was a labour of love. It’s my debut feature and within 2 years of completion we have secured a cinema release, eligibility for BIFA and BAFTA, a National Film Award nomination and now this! When you make your first film, you hope it will get seen, especially when it’s about hugely underrepresented communities. I’m thrilled that our quirky family comedy with a big heart will now be accessible to so many people via one of the nation’s biggest broadcasters.
Producer Dominique Unsworth said:
The fact that a mainstream broadcaster has picked this up is a real ray of light in a challenging market for Indies. It demonstrates that there is a very real and hungry global majority audience and streaming our film in South Asian Heritage Month specifically recognises the value of the UK South Asian audience.
On ITVX in South Asian Heritage Month 18th July – 17th August 2024.
