Anyone who has seen East is East or Bend It Like Beckham may experience something of a feeling of déjà vu when watching Blinded by the Light. Once again we are presented with a Pakistani family that immigrates to small town Britain, where the father insists the child adhere to the cultural norms of the country the family has left behind, while the teenage finds it increasingly impossible to accept those norms, preferring to live according to the expectations of the new country.

So why bother with seeing yet another riff on the old theme? Simply because Blinded by the Light presents it in a new, inventive and thoroughly enjoyable fashion.

The film has so many unexpected elements that one frequently forgets one has been here before. Most prominently, the songs of Bruce Springsteen impel the teenaged son, Javed, living in the large industrial town of Luton in the 1980s, to rebel against his father’s expectations that he pursue a safe career in economics or law.

Instead Javed decides, with the aid of a supportive high school teacher, Miss Clay, to become a writer – much to his father’s disgust and disapproval. Springsteen’s challenging message comes across clearly and infectiously to long-time fans and new listeners alike.

The director, Gurinder Chadha, creatively floats lyrics across a blank wall behind Javed and uses the music (rather less effectively) to give rise to a kind of Bollywood song-and-dance routine in a street market. Above all, she draws on Springsteen’s reputation as the voice of the downtrodden working class.

The setting of economic depression in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain makes the plot disturbingly relevant today. Javed’s family must deal with impending poverty, and not unexpectedly, they are constantly confronted with white supremacists who tell them to “go back to where they came from.”

Kulvinder Ghir turns in a strong performance as the domineering father, Malik. Meera Ganatra is compelling as the overworked but gentle and understanding mother, Noor. Nell Williams is all sweetness as Javed’s first love – and a rebel against the ultra-right politics of her uptight parents.

Above all, Viveik Kalra as Javed is delightfully engaging as he convincingly registers the emotions of a young man torn between his own personal needs and love of family. The many supporting cast members are fresh and authentic.

This is not to say that the film is flawless. Some sequences could be omitted to advantage, particularly an overemphasis on Javed’s early efforts at writing and an undeveloped subplot in which Javed and a friend attempt to hijack the school’s public address system to broadcast Springsteen’s music. The film is perhaps weakest where it needs to be most effective: Javed’s inevitable reconciliation with his distraught father is artificial and corny. However, these faults hardly detract from the overall impact.

Blinded by the Light is a joyously colourful feel-good movie – part social commentary, part family drama, part coming-of-age story, and part musical. It does a wonderful job of showing the power of pop music, particularly Springsteen’s ageless songs. It also entertainingly reminds us of the challenges that almost all the young face as they try to find themselves and their path in life. What a great way for the whole family to celebrate the last days of the summer holiday!