Mumbai dancers leap off the silver screen and onto the stage in Singapore’s first theatrical Bollywood show. Y-Jean Mun- Delsalle goes behind the scenes with female lead Carol ‘not Nelly’ Furtado
In what’s set to be the fi rst big theatre hit of the year, the songs and dances from Bollywood blockbusters are hitting the Esplanade, along with the high-energy music, jangling bangles and beads, bright swirling colours and extravagantly layered costumes synonymous with the fi lms. The Merchants of Bollywood’s larger-than-life spectacle comes laden with generous helpings of genre staples – the teenage rebellion and melodrama, the push and pull between tradition and modernity, and unrestrained dance sequences; this is Bollywood after all. The show loosely follows the reallife story of celebrated Bollywood choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant, and merges centuries-old Indian classical dance with Western styles such as funk and disco. Set in the deserts of Rajasthan, the tale centres on young Ayesha (Carol Furtado), her grandfather and the universal language of dance, in a show that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers.
How is it playing the role of Ayesha Merchant, Bollywood’s reigning queen of choreography?
It feels special, privileged and enthralling. Special as I get to quench my passion for dance, privileged as it entails recreating the life of Vaibhavi Merchant, and enthralling as each city and venue provide a different response.
The spectacle showcases a fusion of dance forms.
Vaibhavi’s choreography is a great mix of modern and classical dance forms. It is a task each night to get through them, but my passion for dance, along with my personal emotional connection with the role of Ayesha, helps me sail through…with a few bruises and scratches.
Is it easy performing such energetic song-and-dance routines while wearing layers of costumes and jewellery?
Getting in and out of costumes between acts and just holding all the jewellery in place while performing the complex dance manoeuvres is a fine art.
How does the show capture the essence of India?
Watching this show is like taking a tour of India – you understand Indians, our emotions, colours, rhythms, humour, traditions and family values, along with our songs and dance.
Is it all a symbol of extravagance and excess?
Films in India are by far the largest form of entertainment. Bollywood films depict our reality, but interlace it with the extravagance of song and dance shot in exotic foreign locations. It subtly becomes a tool of escapism for the common man, providing him relief from the daily grind and a fantasy to live by.
What does Bollywood have that Hollywood lacks?
The letter B to begin with. A repertoire of 5,000 years of cultural history, a thousand gods and goddesses and vivid diversity.
The Merchants of Bollywood lights up the Esplanade Theatre from 12-17 Jan.
