The superstar was seen at the choreographer's show 'Merchants of Bollywood' in Manchester.
Actor Amitabh Bachchan had a busy time when he visited the House of Commons (UK), last weekend to launch the International Indian Films Academy Awards (IIFA) 2007, to be held next year in Sheffield. But in between his tight schedule Big B took time out to make an appearance at the successfully running play 'Merchants of Bollywood' at Manchester's Opera house. The show is based on the life of Bollywood choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant.
Though he did not watch the show we wonder if he showed any displeasure at its title . Incidentally, Big B dislikes the word 'Bollywood' and prefers 'Indian cinema' to it.
'Merchants of Bollywood'
The show first premiered in Australia. Later it toured to Berlin and Zurich. The narrative revolves around how Vaibhavi fell out with her family and especially her grandfather, the late Hiralal Merchant (choreographer and a Bollywood pioneer) as she wanted to fire modern dance and music into age-old Bollywood. Incidentally, Vaibhavi has also choreographed the show.
While Vaibhavi's character is named Ayesha (played by model Carol Furtado) in the show, her grandfather's character is called Shantilal Merchant (played by Arif Zakaria). Shantilal believes that Bollywood is no decent place for women. He feels that films should be used for the betterment of people, and not as a glitzy vehicle for models and beauty queens.
Feedback and fervour
"Absurdly colourful and improbably energetic, 'Merchants of Bollywood' might just be the most exhilarating musical I've seen this year," writes Kevin Bourke of Manchester Evening News. Event promoter Harvey Goldsmith says that he was "bewitched" by the show. "I was taken to see it by a friend in Australia where it was a huge success. I fell in love with it on the spot," he says. "In the first week of the show in Australia, the audience was predominantly Asian. But by the second week the audience comprised of 65 per cent Australians and 35 per cent Asians. I am hoping the audience here too will be a cross-section of Asians who are Bollywood fans," he said in an interview to the Independent.
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