My Tuesday night was filled with Bollywood, and quite literally. I finally got into Malaysia's most prestigious performing arts center, Istana Budaya, to watch the critically aclaimed stage musical from Mumbai, The Merchants of Bollywod. All this made possible by Yeshotha. Her dad works for Astro and got a few complimentary tickets. I attended the event with her, Kalpanaa and Pathu. What can I say? It was pretty amazing. Watching a full-length musical for the first time was truly an enchanting experience, unlike the 5 minute musical of Grease that I did in school once before. Nevertheless, nothing is perfect. There were somethings that I didn't like. The story, was a bit cliched, but then again, I was watching a Bollywood performance.
The story is about a man, who is a famous Bollywood choreographer. He holds religion, tradition and culture very highly, so much so, he incorporates this into his dances. But his ways are threatened as the current generation have more modern view on how things should be done. He leaves the movie industry and focuses on his grand-daughter by teaching her religious dances and dances of the Gods. But she does not want to lead that life, and confronts her grandfather about it. He declines her wishes and obviously upset, she leaves her grand father and every thing he has taught her and heads to Bollywood to pursue her dreams. She makes it big, but after years, she decides to get back to her roots. She returns home to her grand father now sick and withered. He still refuses to speak to her. He then heads to the temple of Shiva, and asks forgiveness for what her grand daughter has done, and proclaims that no one will ever chant His name again after his death. Upon this catastrophe, the grand daughter pleases her grand father by devoting herself to the temple and performing the sacred dance of Gods. Her grand father finds peace at last, and passes the moment the dance is complete. The grand daughter is upset, and realises her wrongs. She returns to Bollywood, and incorporates the teachings of her grand father and becomes a sucess, in all the right ways.
Phew, that was long. But the story was lined with love, drama, comedy and nothing is complete in Bollywood without dance, music and bright colours! We even stood and danced to one of the songs, just the five of us. A bit embarassed that no one else wanted to join us, save for this guy, who got up, and reluctantly sat back down. But at the last number, many of them did stand and dance! It was one hell of a night, and I can't wait for my next event at Istana Budaya!
