- Bombay Dreams
Infobox Musical
name= Bombay Dreams
caption= 2002 Original London Cast Recording
music=A. R. Rahman
lyrics= Don Black
book=Meera Syal &Thomas Meehan
basis=
productions= 2002 West End
2004 Broadway
awards="Bombay Dreams" is a
Bollywood -themed musical. The music for Bombay Dreams was created byA. R. Rahman , lyrics by Don Black. The plot was written byMeera Syal and it was produced byAndrew Lloyd Webber . The London production opened in 2002. The musical also ran on Broadway fromApril 29 ,2004 toJanuary 1 ,2005 (284 performances) atThe Broadway Theatre .Plot
The story centers around Akaash, a young man from the slums of
Bombay who dreams of becoming the next big star inBollywood . Fate steps in when a rich pro-bono lawyer and his fiancée, an aspiringdocumentary film maker, arrive to prevent the demolition of Akaash's slum. Akaash quickly falls in love with the lawyer's fiancée, Priya, who happens to be the daughter of a famous Bollywood director, and the ticket to the top that Akaash needs. Complications arise as Akaash faces the reality of show business, fame, his love for Priya, and his obligations to his family, friends, and his Paradise slum.The plot includes frequent reference to the change of name from
Bombay toMumbai of the titular city and references the identity issues that this raises.The plot, format and characters of "Bombay Dreams" were revised several times. The book of the musical was rewritten and many songs were cut and other songs added to the show for the Broadway run.
Notable songs
Bombay Dreams spawned the hit single Shakalaka Baby and also featured a remix of the notable song
Chaiyya Chaiyya as part of the production.Musical Numbers
London version
*1. Bombay Awakes
*2. Bombay Dreams
*3. Like An Eagle
*4. Love's Never Easy "(Reworked version, Original: Ishq Bina -Taal )"
*5. Don't Release Me
*6. Happy Endings "(Reworked version, Original: Rangeela Re -Rangeela )"
*7. Ooh La La "(Reworked version, Original: Ooh La La La -Minsara Kanavu )"
*8. Shakalaka Baby "(Reworked version, Original: Shakalaka Baby -Mudhalvan )"
*9. Are You Sure You Want To Be Famous? "(Refined version, From: Sona Nahi Na Sahi -One 2 Ka 4 )"
*10. I Could Live Here
*11. Only Love
*12. Chaiyya Chaiyya "(Reworked version, Original: Chhaiyan Chhaiyan -Dil Se )"
*13. How Many Stars
*14. Salaam Bombay
*15. Closer Than Ever "(Reworked version, Inspired from: Nahin Saamne -Taal )"
*16. Ganesh
*17. The Journey Home
*18. Wedding Qawwali
*19. Bombay SleepsBroadway version
*1. Salaam Bombay (overture)
*2. Bollywood
*3. Love's Never Easy
*4. Lovely, Lovely, Ladies
*5. Bhangra
*6. Shakalaka Baby
*7. I Could Live Here
*8. Is This Love?
*9. Famous
*10. Love's Never Easy (reprise)
*11. Chaiyya Chaiyya
*12. How Many Stars?
*13. Salaam Bombay (reprise)
*14. Hero
*15. Ganesh Procession
*16. The Journey Home
*17. Wedding QawwaliTheatrical runs
Bombay Dreams enjoyed a successful opening run in
London from 2002 where its original cast included:http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/bombaydreams/cast/londonorig2002.htm Original Bombay Dreams Cast, London 2002]
*Preeya Kalidas as Priya
*Raza Jaffrey as Akaash
*Ayesha Dharker as Rani
*Dalip Tahil as Madan
*Ramon Tikaram as VikramBombay Dreams also enjoyed a run on Broadway in 2004 where a notable cast member was
Madhur Jaffrey as Shanti.http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/bombaydreams/cast/broadwayorig2004.htm Broadway 2004 Cast]A new production produced by
Atlanta 's Theater of the Stars and the Independent Presenters Association started touringNorth America in February 2006.References
External links
* [http://niralimagazine.com/2004/09/brown-on-broadway/ Brown on Broadway]
* [http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/bombaydreams/ Bombay Dreams]
* [http://www.stlyrics.com/b/bombaydreams.htm Soundtrack]
* [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/detail/ayesha_dharker_and_manu_narayan Ayesha Dharker and Manu Narayan] - "Downstage Center" interview at American Theatre Wing.org
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