Institute History
Description
Perhaps through some sort of cosmic Jungian synergy, cultural trends seem to come in waves. Lately Bollywood has sparked the imaginations of western artists from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Baz Luhrmann. The whimsical musical, Bollywood Queen, transposes the ebullient richness of Indian musical cinema to contemporary London in a classic story of star-crossed lovers straddling cultures, families, and the law (no, not each other—she's still a virgin).
Geena, a radiant coed from a good Indian family, is saved from near-death by handsome, blue-eyed Jay, a transplant from the English countryside. It's a magical moment of love at first sight. But love is never easy when you're a girl bound by strict Indian tradition and overprotective brothers. Throwing caution to the wind, Geena and Jay embark on an adventure of romantic liaisons and furtive kisses—naturally taking time to stop for flashy song and dance numbers!
In a hybrid twist on the formula, the playful score mingles traditional Hindi pop with English ballads,rhythm and blues, and even country music. Director Jeremy Wooding employs fanciful Bollywood devices like playback dubbing, flamboyant costumes, slo-mo sequences, and easy shifts between reality and fantasy; set against the backdrop of rainy London and pastoral Somerset, they create a wonderful sense of freshness and fun.