Riz Ahmed’s new documentary series tells the story of British-Asian resistance

“Sadly, it’s a history that not many people are aware of,” Ahmed told BBC Radio 4. “One of the aims of this is to take people on this ride and open their eyes to this rich history of defiance in the face of the rising far right,” Ahmed added. (AFP)
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Updated 09 April 2024
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Riz Ahmed’s new documentary series tells the story of British-Asian resistance

Riz Ahmed’s newest documentary series is set to reveal the hidden history of British-Asian resistance to the violence of the 1970s and 1980s.

Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, is a documentary series airing this April and is produced by the Emmy award-winning Rogan productions and Ahmed’s production company Left Handed Films. 

The series follows the protests following the murder of a 19- year- old Sikh boy Gurdeep Chaggar in Southall in 1976. The killing of Aftab Ali near Brick Lane in 1978 and the arson attack in Walthamstow which killed Parveen Khan and her three children including a baby in their own home in 1981. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Riz Ahmed (@rizahmed)

“Sadly, it’s a history that not many people are aware of,” Ahmed told BBC Radio 4. “One of the aims of this is to take people on this ride and open their eyes to this rich history of defiance in the face of the rising far right,” Ahmed added.

Ahmed said he was proud of the series which he has co-produced. 

“I was too young when a lot of this was going on but I’d hear stories from my uncles about really having to fight to survive.We know all about Martin Luther King and the movements in America - but this was our civil rights movement here in Britain.”he added.


‘One Battle,’ ‘Hamnet’ claim top prizes at Golden Globes

Updated 12 January 2026
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‘One Battle,’ ‘Hamnet’ claim top prizes at Golden Globes

  • Timothee Chalamet wins male actor award
  • Jessie Buckley gets trophy for film ‘Hamnet’

LOS ANGELES: The 83rd Golden Globe Awards has offered a clear reflection of a year defined by range, ambition and strong creative voices across film and television.

Dark comedy “One Battle After Another” and “Hamnet,” a story about William Shakespeare’s grief over the death of his son, claimed the top prizes on ​Sunday at one of the first major ceremonies in Hollywood’s annual awards season.

Leonardo DiCaprio at the Golden Globe Awards. (Supplied)

The film “One Battle” was named best movie musical or comedy, one of its four Globe honors, and “Hamnet” earned the best drama prize.

Timothee Chalamet triumphed in one of the most competitive categories, taking the trophy for best male actor in a movie musical or comedy for his role as a professional table tennis player in “Marty Supreme.”

Chalamet defeated “One Battle” star Leonardo DiCaprio, “Jay Kelly” actor George Clooney and other big names at the red-carpet ceremony in Beverly Hills, California. “This category is stacked. I look up to all of you,” Chalamet said to his fellow nominees.

The acting categories highlighted established and international talent. Wagner Moura’s win for “The Secret Agent” marked a significant moment, underscoring the Globes’ continued openness to global storytelling.

The film “Hamnet” imagines how Shakespeare and his ⁠wife dealt with the death of their 11-year-old son, whose name was Hamnet. Some historians believe Hamnet’s death inspired the playwright to produce “Hamlet.”

Irish actor Jessie Buckley ‌won best female actor in a movie drama for playing Shakespeare’s wife, ‍Agnes Hathaway. (Supplied)

Irish actor Jessie Buckley ‌won best female actor in a movie drama for playing Shakespeare’s wife, ‍Agnes Hathaway.

Beyond traditional categories, the awards also reflected a broader cinematic landscape. “Sinners” claimed the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award, while “KPop Demon Hunters” demonstrated how animation and music continue to expand the boundaries of mainstream storytelling. Television honors echoed this diversity, with strong representation across drama, comedy, and limited series.

Taken together, this year’s Golden Globes felt like a genuine snapshot of the industry’s current moment: expansive, international and willing to reward bold choices alongside emotional truth.