The Merchants of Bollywood

Paul and I had another great outing on Saturday night to the Esplanade. The Merchants of Bollywood was full of vibrant color, bright lights and fantastic dancing. What a production! We became interested in this show because of the numerous articles in the newspaper and how it told a story of a family in the Indian Film business: Bollywood. Did you know that more films (800/year) are released out of “Bollywood” than the Hollywood each year?

I don’t have any pictures because photography is now allowed during the show but I had to share this experience. There are some great photos at the show’s website – take a look: http://merchantsofbollywood.com.au/aus/Media_gallery.html

This musical originated in Mumbai (or Bombay) – the Indian Film Capital and now has traveled to globe. The show’s inspiration is the real life story of the Merchant family. Vaibhavi Merchant (now a top choreographer in India) wanted to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and work in Bollywood. But, he felt “films were no place for decent women.”

The show is “homage to one of the world’s great film industries, but beneath the glitter and glamour, the bangles and the beads is a true story of a granddaughter’s search for her destiny and for the love and approval of her grandfather. A tale of sacrifice and rebellion, a conflict of generations, and a journey to the sacred heart of dance. The music and dance comes from India, but the message…is universal. Make peace with each other while we have the chance. Om Shanti Om.” – Toby Gough (Director)

We were taken with the music and dance – each cast member was phenomenal. There were so many group dances and everyone had to be in sync. We could tell the cast REALLY enjoyed performing; they were flawless! To add to the magic of the evening, some of the Indian women that attended the show wore spectacular Saris & Salwar Kameez suits (Tunic top with flowy pants and sash; Paul brought me back one of these outfits when he came back from a trip to Bangalore).