Review | Bend It Like Beckham by Narinder Dhami

When I picked up a second-hand copy of Bend It Like Beckham by Narinder Dhami, I didn’t realise that the book was a novelisation of the film, rather than the other way around. That detail becomes quickly apparent, as large portions of the novel read almost identically to a script. In fact, significant chunks of dialogue and scene direction are lifted straight from the movie.

For those unfamiliar with the now-classic film, the story follows Jessminder (Jess), a football-loving teenager navigating the tension between her passion for the sport and the expectations of her traditional Punjabi family. While her sister Pinky is consumed with preparations for her wedding, Jess is scouted by Jules, who plays for the local women’s team, the Hounslow Harriers. Jules encourages Jess to try out, setting off a familiar loop in the story: Jess’s parents forbid her from playing football, Jess sneaks off to train and compete, she’s eventually caught, and the cycle repeats. Meanwhile, Jess begins to fall for her coach, Joe. Unfortunately, so does Jules. The story climaxes with a scheduling clash between Pinky’s wedding and the Harriers’ tournament final, where an American scout is rumoured to be watching.

Disappointingly, the novel doesn’t do much to expand on the story or characters. If anything, the film offers more in terms of emotional depth and humour. For instance, the iconic moment involving Jules’ parents, particularly her mum’s hilariously awkward comment about “lesbianism”, is completely absent from the book. That scene alone adds nuance to the film's exploration of identity and perception, and its omission from the novel feels like a missed opportunity.

After reading the book, I rewatched the film with someone who hadn’t seen it before. I was amused to find them inadvertently narrating what was about to happen - so perhaps not the most creative of plots?

There are also rumours that the story was originally supposed to have a WLW (women-loving-women) ending between Jess and Jules, which would arguably have added more emotional depth and representation. As it stands, the heteronormative love triangle between Jess, Jules, and Joe feels underdeveloped.

Still, despite these shortcomings, Bend It Like Beckham manages to remain a lighthearted and fun read. The themes it touches on, cultural identity, family pressure, and the pursuit of personal dreams, are important, even if they're more powerfully explored on screen than on the page.

In short, unless you're a die-hard fan or simply love revisiting the story in any form, you're probably better off sticking with the film.