Bombay Dreams
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| Bombay Dreams | |
|---|---|
The CD Cover for the 2002 Original London Cast Recording
|
|
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Lyrics | Don Black |
| Book | Meera Syal Thomas Meehan |
| Productions | 2002 West End 2004 Broadway 2006 North America tour |
Bombay Dreams is a Bollywood-themed musical, with music by A. R. Rahman, lyrics by Don Black and the book by Meera Syal and Thomas Meehan, and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The London production opened in 2002 and ran for two years. The musical also was produced on Broadway in 2004.
Contents
Plot
The story centers around Akaash, a young man from the slums of Bombay who dreams of becoming the next big star in Bollywood. Fate steps in when a rich pro-bono lawyer and his fiancée, an aspiring documentary filmmaker, 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 to Mumbai of the titular city and references the identity issues that this raises.
Musical numbers
London version
| Song | Singer(s) | Duration | Lyrics | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay Awakes | Instrumental | 2:18 | ||
| Bombay Dreams | Dalip Tahil, Raj Ghatak, Karen David & Preeya Kalidas & A. R. Rahman | 1:09 | Don Black | |
| Like An Eagle | Raza Jaffrey & A. R. Rahman | 5:00 | Don Black | Additional Vocals by Maurius de Vries |
| Love's Never Easy | Raj Ghatak | 4:40 | Don Black | Reworked version, Original: Ishq Bina - Taal |
| Don't Release Me | Dalip Tahil & A. R. Rahman | 3:18 | Don Black | |
| Happy Endings | Preeya Kalidas & Dalip Tahil | 3:04 | Don Black | Reworked version, Original: Rangeela Re - Rangeela |
| Ooh La La | Andrew Playfoot | 3:07 | Don Black | Reworked version, Original: Ooh La La La - Minsara Kanavu |
| Shakalaka Baby | Preeya Kalidas & Raza Jaffrey | 4:15 | Don Black | Reworked version, Original: Shakalaka Baby - Mudhalvan Additional Vocals by Maurius de Vries |
| Are You Sure You Want To Be Famous? | Preeya Kalidas, Raza Jaffrey & A. R. Rahman | 3:49 | Don Black | Refined version, From: Sona Nahi Na Sahi - One 2 Ka 4 |
| I Could Live Here | Raza Jaffrey | 2:20 | Don Black | |
| Only Love | Preeya Kalidas | 3:28 | Don Black | |
| Chaiyya Chaiyya | Sukhwinder Singh & Sapna Awasti | 5:11 | Gulzar | Reused version, Original: Chaiyya Chaiyya - Dil Se.. |
| How Many Stars | Preeya Kalidas & Raza Jaffrey | 3:48 | Don Black | |
| Salaam Bombay | Raza Jaffrey & A. R. Rahman | 3:34 | Don Black | |
| Closer Than Ever | Preeya Kalidas & Raza Jaffrey | 5:36 | Don Black | Reworked version, Original: Nahin Samne - Taal |
| Ganesh | Instrumental | 2:14 | ||
| The Journey Home | Raza Jaffrey & A. R. Rahman | 4:21 | Don Black | Later reused in Sarah Brightman's album Harem |
| Wedding Qawwali | Sukhwinder Singh | 3:34 | Sukhwinder Singh | |
| Bombay Sleeps | Instrumental | 1:05 | ||
| Tak Dheen | Reena Bhardwaj | 4:41 | Unreleased song, later used in album Shakalaka Baby with vocals by Preeya Kalidas |
Broadway 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 Qawwali
Productions
Bombay Dreams premiered in the West End at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on June 19, 2002 and closed in June 2004. The original cast included Preeya Kalidas as Priya, Raza Jaffrey as Akaash, Ayesha Dharker as Rani, Dalip Tahil as Madan, and Ramon Tikaram as Vikram.[1]
The musical opened on Broadway at The Broadway Theatre on April 29, 2004 and closed on January 1, 2005 after 284 performances. The director was Steven Pimlott, with choreography by Anthony Van Laast and Farah Khan and scenic and costume design by Mark Thompson. The cast featured Manu Narayan as Akaash and Madhur Jaffrey as Shanti. 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.[2]
A new production produced by Atlanta's Theater of the Stars and the Independent Presenters Association started touring North America in February 2006 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California.[3][4]
Nominations
- Tony Award for Best Costume Design - Mark Thompson (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Choreography - Anthony Van Laast (nominee), Farah Khan (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Orchestrations - Paul Bogaev (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestrations (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award Outstanding Set Design of a Musical (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (nominee)
