Particle.news
Download on the App Store

‘Christmas Karma’ Draws Harsh Early Reviews as Telegraph Issues Zero-Star Verdict

The film reframes Dickens through a multifaith immigrant lens with Bollywood-style music.

Overview

  • Gurinder Chadha directs a contemporary A Christmas Carol retelling centered on Eshaan “Mr” Sood, a Hindu British immigrant shaped by the Ugandan Asian expulsion.
  • Early reactions skew negative, including a zero-star Telegraph review and a pan from the Guardian.
  • Empire offers a more forgiving take, praising the concept while flagging stretched production values and weak songs, and suggesting it could become a festive perennial.
  • Critics cite conspicuous technical issues such as out-of-sync vocals, noticeable green-screen and janky CGI, plus a touristy London sheen that softens the story’s hardship.
  • The ensemble includes Kunal Nayyar, Hugh Bonneville, Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, Boy George and Danny Dyer, with credits nods from Priyanka Chopra, Jassi Sidhu and Malkit Singh.