Tajinder Sindra is a renowned writer, actor, and director from the vibrant community of Southall. With an impressive portfolio, he has acted in and directed Bollywood films such as "London 2 Amritsar" and "London De Heer," establishing himself as a prominent figure in the industry. He is the founder of the Punjabi Theatre Academy, celebrating the roots and heritage of Punjabi culture.
Ask him about the artistic and cultural scenario in Southall now and back when he was growing up and he’ll tell you how the definition of intimacy has changed in the community. “Earlier, the community needed intimacy and wanted to come together on different occasions. Now it's more about familial intimacy. With three-four generations of a family settled in the town, they don't really need to go out and mingle in the community”, he said.
He is inspired by Channi Singh, OBE, the godfather of Bhangra in the West. However, the story and the community of Southall are his main driving force. “It's more of the community and the story of South Hall that inspires me to convey the stories I do”, he said
Mr Sindra is particularly passionate about representing the story of the struggle of Southall’s South Asian community for their rights and he doesn’t want to settle with describing the events that occurred. He wants to showcase the personal accounts of the people in the heart of it. His documentary, ‘Me and my Southall’ attempts to achieve the same.
When he came to the UK, he was asked by an immigration officer, “Why UK?”, to which he responded “I wanted to see the gora people who ruled my country.” The officer immediately said, “Welcome to my country” and this is one of the main reasons why he has always felt welcomed in the UK and wants to represent Southall’s culture and traditions so that people can feel welcomed in the community.
Mr Sindra is particularly proud of his part in reviving Punjabi Theatre in the UK after a gap of 15 years and has collaborated with both the Indian and UK government to bridge the gap between the two countries through plays.
