Sheffield’s First South Asian Community Cinema Launches with a Special Screening of “Bend It Like Beckham

A significant new cultural initiative arrives in Sheffield this month with the launch of The Turban Lens Community Cinema, the city’s first South Asian–led community cinema, founded by mother–son team Jasbirr Grover and Jagraj Singh.

The inaugural screening will take place on Saturday, 29th November 2025, at Crookes Social Club, featuring the beloved British classic Bend It Like Beckham (2002).

Supported by Cinema For All, this new platform aims to bring long-overdue visibility to South Asian stories in Yorkshire’s community cinema landscape. As Sheffield’s first South Asian community cinema and creative gathering space, the mission is twofold: to bring forward films and stories that reflect our identities, and to protect our heritage by hosting cultural events that honour our roots, festivals, languages, and collective well-being.

“From my work in emotional empowerment and well-being across education, creative, and cultural spaces, I’ve learned that stories are far more than entertainment — they shape how we understand ourselves. Engaging with creativity through books, cinema, language, history, and the cultural roots we come from strengthens identity, deepens belonging, and builds emotional resilience. My passion for creativity, culture, cinema, and community well-being has been shaped by years with the Korean Cultural Centre in Delhi and the Embassy of Korea, where I witnessed how film, music, and cultural events can bring people together and transform emotional landscapes.

For me, creativity, community, culture, and cinema are interwoven; they help us explore what lies within and experience those layers together. Film mirrors our inner worlds and honours lived realities while opening windows into the everyday stories, celebrations, families, and journeys of others. And beyond film, other forms of storytelling — writing, cultural gatherings, and creative celebrations that honour our roots — reconnect us with who we are and where we come from,” says co-founder and bestselling South Asian Writer Jasbirr Grover.

At just 18, Jagraj Singh has already established himself as one of Sheffield’s most promising young filmmakers. His journey into film began after a diagnosis of juvenile arthritis redirected his path from cricket to creativity. What started as a moment of loss became the beginning of a profound artistic calling.

His zero-budget debut film poem Mistaken Identity, exploring Sikh identity and belonging through his lived experience, has been broadcast on BBC Radio Sheffield, screened at universities, community venues, Showroom Shorts, and selected for UK film festivals. His thoughtful and visually sensitive storytelling also led to invitations from BBC Sheffield and BBC Leeds to share his journey with wider audiences.

Jagraj’s vision extends beyond filmmaking. He is passionate about creating representation, visibility, and accessible community cinema spaces for South Asian stories.
As a BAFTA Prince William Bursary Awardee, Jagraj is recognised as a rising creative talent whose work reflects sensitivity, authenticity, and a deep commitment to amplifying overlooked narratives.

““Film helped me through one of the most difficult phases of my life. It gave me a language to understand myself and a way to stay connected when everything around me was changing. My journey into film began in pain, but it led me to purpose — and it taught me that stories can change how we see ourselves and each other. For me, filmmaking is about giving voice to the stories we grew up with but rarely saw on screen. That’s the heart of The Turban Lens: using cinema to create understanding, confidence, and community,” says Jagraj Singh, Film Maker Cinematographer and Co-Founder.

The launch of The Turban Lens marks the next chapter in his mission to use cinema as a tool for culture, connection, and collective well-being.
More than two decades after its release, Bend It Like Beckham remains a landmark in British cinema — an inspiring story of ambition, identity, family expectations, and breaking cultural barriers.

Its continued relevance makes it the perfect choice to launch Sheffield’s first South Asian community cinema.

The First showing will be of Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and take place on Saturday, 29 November 2025 at 3:00 PM at Venue: Crookes Social Club, S10 1TD

For more information visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-turban-lens-community-cinema-bend-it-like-beckham-tickets-1975138730111