Christmas Karma
Gurinder Chadha’s (Bend It Like Beckham, Viceroy’s House) Christmas Karma has just arrived in cinemas to put the British audiences in the festive mood. And, although it’s a film made for nickels and pennies, Chadha’s latest feature still has pure passion and joy in it.
Inspired by the Dickensian novella and – most importantly – Capraesque at heart, this family drama (and a Bollywood-like musical) is sometimes a messy but still enjoyable venture. Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) might be too young to play Scrooge (here, they named him Mr Sood), yet watching him come face-to-face with a star-packed line-up of ghosts (played by Boy George, Billy Porter and Eva Longoria) makes us smile throughout. Despite some of its cheesy premises and corny jokes (that will no doubt land well with the kids), Christmas Karma delivers a wholesome Christmas movie for the entire family.
This zealous project touches on something truly inspiring by echoing the 1972 events in Uganda, when Indians were expelled. Chadha uses Christmas Karma to incorporate social commentary into the plot, which also serves as a driving force in Sood’s character development. There’s a history lesson behind this colourful musical, which compensates for some of the sins of this goofy (but rather sweet) adventure.
One might scold Nayyar for his exaggerated performance (even if it is deliberately overdone), or chastise such an experienced filmmaker as Chadha for relying on too-obvious sentimentalities and well-known lessons that her Scrooge will soon learn. However, once all the elements are put together, everything runs smoothly as the story – and the songs – hit all the right notes for younger audiences.
Like every yuletide movie, Christmas Karma might be a classic in ten years, or it could also be a title forgotten by the passage of time. But it deserves a chance. Although it’s another re-interpretation of the classic Scrooge tale, Chadha is trying something new. While a musical and social commentary are an unusual mix, it somehow works.
Whether or not you rewatch Christmas Karma next year, it will definitely change your perspective on Christmas and how minorities in the UK perceive the festive season. Dear teachers: show this film in schools – it’s only two hours long, and it could make a difference.
Jan Tracz
Christmas Karma is released nationwide on 14th November 2025.
Watch the trailer for Christmas Karma here:
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