The cast of internationally-acclaimed smash hit musical, The Merchants of Bollywood has finally arrived in Malaysia. The 40-strong cast arrives from Mumbai after a two-month break from their international tour – well rested and ready to raise the roof at Istana Budaya.
Featuring music composed by Oscar-winning composer A.R Rahman, the all-singing, all-dancing Bollywood musical extravaganza that has already been hailed as a spectacular success by audiences and critics in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa and Australia is now about to spellbind Malaysia.
Making its debut in Asia after a five-year international tour, the musical comes into Malaysia in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Festival 2009. The Merchants of Bollywood will feature its original cast who has been travelling around the world performing to sold-out theatres and rave reviews.
The musical’s main leads Carol Furtado, Chander Khanna and Dipender Singh all expressed their excitement at representing the musical here and being able to share the excitement and energy of the musical with the Malaysia. Dipender Singh, who plays the role of Uday said, “I am so excited and honoured to be here, I’ve always wanted to visit Malaysia and it is great to get to do what I love in such a wonderful place.”
The media sneak preview of the international smash hit musical will showcase Bollywood in all its glory – colour, vibrancy, feet-stomping music and energetic dance moves that surround a heartfelt story of dreams that do come true. “I’m extremely honoured and excited to be chosen to play the lead. I’m an ambassador of India and it is a good way to educate people about India through entertainment, by giving them a taste of everyday India,” said the vivacious Carol Furtado who admits that she is a tomboy who sometimes gets called Carl Furtado.
She adds, “I can relate to the character I play as I’m a bit of a rebel like Ayesha who is a modern girl with a mission and vision in life. She knows what she wants and works towards it.
The Merchants of Bollywood tells the tale of Ayesha Merchant, the granddaughter of Shantilal Merchant, one of Bollywood’s highly acclaimed choreographers from the Hindi film industry’s golden era.
Shantilal has taught Ayesha Indian Classical dance in their home in Rajasthan, but Ayesha has dreams of making her name in Bollywood. Ayesha then abandons home for Mumbai and finds great success in films. However, the emotional pull of her ailing grandfather and her childhood sweetheart Uday, lure her home.
The narrated story unfolds in the form of high-energy dance routines, by a terrific company – all with toned bellies and perfect bodies - whose energy is electrifying and dance moves suffused with a rush of joy and yet ruthlessly precise. The musical showcases the artistry of Indian Classical dance fused with modern dance genres, funk, disco and hip-hop. The Malaysian audience will find themselves bewitched by the magic that the musical will unleash on them.
The musical is brought in by Asiapromote Ventures Sdn. Bhd. and LD Sports Sdn. Bhd. Dato’ Mohamed Taufik bin Haji Omar, Chairman, LD Sports said, “Bollywood is the epicenter of the thriving South Asian film industry and Bollywood films tend to be song and dance extravaganzas. Anyone who loves the theatre will be blown away by the musical’s pulsating rhythm, Technicolour beauty and exotic milieu.”
The musical’s final number, It’s Time to Disco, taken from the Bollywood hit, Kal Ho NaaHo, is bound to have any audience on their feet dancing!
The Merchants of Bollywood will be held in Malaysia from July 14 to 26, 2009 at the Istana Budaya. Tickets are priced from RM70 to RM500 and are available through www.ticketpro.com.my or calling the TICKETPRO hotline 03-7880 7999. For more information, log on to www.mobkl.com or call 03 -79559995.
