By Rama Gaind
‘The Merchants of Bollywood’ musical, which ends its season in Canberra on March 6, is a huge celebration of Bollywood in all its commercial glory.
Based on real life, and through music and dance, this story highlights the vital part played by cinema in the heart and soul of Indian society.
The energetic celebration features a youthful cast of 40, dancing and singing their way through choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant, granddaughter of Harilal Merchant, one of the founding fathers of classic Bollywood cinema.
Focal point is the story of a young girl, her tough taskmaster grandfather who wants nothing less than perfection and their shared love of dance.
However, her grandfather Shantilal (Arif Zakaria), rejects the style and approach of Bollywood and they become estranged – until she returns to her birthplace and meets former boyfriend, Uday (Deepak Rawat).
Carol Furtado takes centre stage in the lead as Ayesha Merchant who looks back on the traditional start to her career and the break with her mentor grandfather when she goes to Bollywood and wins accolades as Indian filmdom’s Princess of Romance.
Music and dance creates the structure to reflect some of the most popular of the 800-plus films made every year in Mumbai.
Lip-synching their way through the songs, the dancers perform dance that is linked mostly to recent movies, but also to a clutch of classics naming legendary actors from 1955 to 1974. From disco and hip-hop to classical, they look like they’re having a fabulous time and their vivacity carries the audience on a collective surge of harmonious clapping and toe-tapping.
It’s a trip down memory lane with nostalgia being revived through some memorable numbers from films including Rang De Basanti, Devdas, Dhoom, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and Kal Ho Naa Ho.
After the intense opening with the Natraja, in the Temple of Shiva, some of the singing highlights include blockbuster songs such as Rang De Basanti, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Nach Baliye, Kajrare Kajrare, Say Shava Shava, Dhoom Machale Dhoom and Rock and Roll Soniye.
What’s more, there’s also some comic relief.
The show was a brainchild of writer-director Toby Gough and the music – written and arranged by Salim and Sulaiman – has an irresistible beat. Shimming costumes, bright lights and an intense flow of activity add to the electrifying energy on stage.
The storyline for this lavish production may be simple, but it is a sparkling, artistic spectacular which you can’t get enough of, with the audience clamouring for more, even after a couple of encores!
