Defiance: Fighting The Far Right

by Rajesh Thind & Satiyesh Manoharajah

Episode One of this series boldly takes up the troubling history of the British Asian community’s fight against the white far-right between 1976 and 1981.

2024 · 47m · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

English

About the Film

Defiance: Fighting the Far Right shines a light on an extraordinary protest movement led by young British Asians in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and others joined arms to oppose the anti-immigrant rhetoric, assaults, and even murders waged against their communities. When authorities and far right politicians ignored or, even worse, encouraged such violence, an Asian youth movement took to the streets to defend their very humanity.

Weaving together rarely-seen archival footage and powerful new first-person testimony, this visceral documentary series captures profound injustices while illuminating the power of perseverance and community. This essential work, from producer Riz Ahmed, director Satiyesh Manoharajah, and Rogan Productions, reclaims a neglected history and underscores the solidarity demanded to overcome oppression.

A profoundly illuminating watch, Defiance is an empowering excavation of an overlooked chapter in civil rights history and a vitally inspiring cross-generational viewing experience.

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Upcoming Screenings

Stay tuned for upcoming screenings!

Producer

Anoop Pandhal

Cinematographer

Will Edwards

Editor

Brett Irwin

Music Composer

Bishi Bhattacharyara

About the Director

Satiyesh Manoharajah

Satiyesh Manoharajah is a Primetime Emmy award-winning series director and producer. Before directing Defiance: Fighting the Far Right he wrote and produced the highly acclaimed 9-part podcast series Vishal for BBC Sounds, which made international headlines and led to police reopening the 40-year-old murder case of a young Asian boy who was abducted from the streets of London. Satiyesh led a major collaboration between the Factual and Drama departments at BBC Studios. Before that, he directed the multi-award-winning series Stanley Tucci – Searching For Italy for CNN.

Rajesh Thind

Rajesh Thind is a writer, producer and director with nine years of professional experience, including producing films both independently and for broadcasters such as the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Al-Jazeera. He has also worked for major NGOs, such as Christian Aid and Barnardos. Rajesh has written for the Independent Newspaper, Sunday Times Magazine, Vertigo Magazine, DIPLO magazine and the London International Film Festival, among others. He completed a BA from the University of Manchester in 1996, graduating in Economics specialised in Anthropology and Corporate Finance (recognised as part professional qualification for being an accountant). In 1998, he completed a Masters degree in Sociology and Communications from Goldsmiths College, University of London, completing a thesis on Documentary Film and Realism.

Defiance: Fighting The Far Right

Satiyesh Manoharajah

Rajesh Thind

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