Sonny Michael Chohan, star and director of ‘Guilty Pleasures’, a drama exploring male grooming gangs and sex trafficking (Photograph: Smooth Demon Productions)
A gritty drama about the world of child grooming and sex trafficking has had its debut in Birmingham, at a special screening for cast and crew at the Mockingbird Theatre in Digbeth.
Said to be inspired by true events that took place in Rotherham and Derby between 1997 and 2013, the 50-minute pilot revolves around a British Asian family living in present-day Birmingham.
Created by and starring Midlands-based filmmaker Sonny Michael Chohan, the first episode of the new series Guilty Pleasures garnered a positive reception as it tackled controversial but serious themes.
Following the exploits of Chohan’s lead character – portrayed as hardworking motor mechanic Rehan ‘Ryan’ Shah – the primary episode explores how his life is turned upside-down by the return of his notorious cousin Mohammed ‘Sid’ Siddique after a five-year absence.
The script then delves into murkier territory as Ryan joins Sid in the activities of a dark criminal underworld, where it isn’t long before the title character is shown morphing from an honest family man into a criminal mastermind and ringleader of one of Britain’s largest sex trafficking organisations. When, why and how this seemingly innocent tradesman and overall ‘good guy’ transforms into the head-honcho of such a seedy and morally bankrupt outfit is key to the narrative of the series.
Birmingham actor Antonio Aakeel stars in child grooming drama ‘Guilty Pleasures’ (Photograph: Smooth Demon Productions)
It’s the curiosity around this dark tale that Midlands-based company Smooth Demon Productions is hoping will have viewers both intrigued and hooked; and director Sonny Chohan hopes will secure the show its commissioning.
“When I began researching this project almost three years ago, I faced nothing but negativity from those around me because I was choosing a topic that would make people feel uncomfortable,” explains Sonny.
“The problem in this country is that we are too afraid to face reality and would much rather prefer to turn a blind eye to the real issues our children face in today’s world. I come from an Asian background, so when it comes to discussing things like forced sex, child abuse and rape, especially if the victim or the attacker happens to be of Asian origin, my people go quiet.
“Well, not me! I have created Smooth Demon as a platform for those people whose voices are not being heard. I am not afraid of tackling such issues through television, especially within Asian communities, because nobody else seems to be doing it.”
Although very bold statements from the man who is the drama’s key star, writer producer, director and editor; the over-simplification of the subject matter may yet have its critics.
A press release issued to promote the film appeared to be descriptively vague about its antagonist or the criminal groups it was exploring; or to even suggest an entire community could be suspect:
“This event has been created to show the British audience exactly what is going on in our streets right now. How well do you actually know your best friend, your uncle Bob or that ‘perfect’ new couple that’s just moved next door? What really happens behind closed doors? Are we going just to carry on thinking that child grooming and sex trafficking only exists in third world countries?”
Although it is very unlikely most people watching Guilty Pleasures would assume child grooming was limited to the ‘Third World’ – given the regular news coverage of child sex abuse and cover-ups in Britain – Chohan’s three-year personal character development alongside his desire to convey a message of awareness through storytelling could equally have audiences gripped, should the drama ever make it to mainstream broadcast.
Director Sonny Michael Chohan (centre) with key cast and crew during the premiere of ‘Guilty Pleasures’ (Photograph: Gary Allkins/Smooth Demon Productions)
Actor Antonio Aakeel (centre) with cast and crew during the Birmingham premiere of Guilty Pleasures at the Mockingbird Theatre in Digbeth (Photograph: Gary Allkins/Smooth Demon Productions)
For Sonny, a former Dramatic Arts student at Wolverhampton University, Guilty Pleasures in only one of many forthcoming projects since he founded his company in 2013, and is set to make his progressive career one-to-watch for 2017.
The film also stars Bhav Parma as ‘Shazia’, Sheetal Kapoor as ‘Zaara’ and Javed Khan as ‘Uncle Mo’, alongside local aspiring film star Antonio Aakeel, who plays gang member Imi.
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