Brick Lane

A stunning BBC radio adaptation of Monica Ali's bestselling, Booker-shortlisted novel 1985. Uprooted from her home in Bangladesh, 18-year-old Nazneen is sent to London for an arranged marriage with a much older man. Her new life is strange and bewildering - the busy streets and crowded tower blocks of the East End are a world away from the rural village she grew up in, and she struggles to adapt to living with her self-important husband, Chanu. Back in Bangladesh, Nazneen's sister Hasina has eloped with the man she loves, and been disowned by her family. Homesick and isolated, Nazneen reads her letters with envy, longing to have such independence and romance for herself. As the years pass, she devotes herself to becoming a dutiful wife and mother - and then she meets a passionate young radical, Karim, and finds herself drawn to him. Can she finally decide to take charge of her destiny? Monica Ali's stunning debut has become a modern classic. Published in 2003, its themes of immigrant identity and integration, racism and nationalism, free will and fate still resonate with us today. Dramatised by leading playwright Tanika Gupta, this enthralling adaptation was shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, and stars Anneika Rose, Zubin Varla, Chetna Pandya , Hiftu Quasem, Nina Wadia and Nikesh Patel . Written by Monica Ali Dramatised by Tanika Gupta Directed by Anne Isger Sound by Caleb Knightley, Ali Craig and Pete Ringrose Production Co-ordination by Luke MacGregor Production Assistance by Hannah O'Reilly A BBC Audio Production Cast Nazneen - Anneika Rose Chanu - Zubin Varla Razia - Chetna Pandya Hasina - Hiftu Quasem Mrs Islam - Nina Wadia Dr Azad - Neil D'Souza Karim - Nikesh Patel Tariq - Ragevan Vasan Shahana - Rameet Rauli Bibi - Riti Suthar Secretary - Gavi Singh Chera First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7-14 August 2022 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd