Bombay Dreams

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2002 Original London Cast Recording
Bombay Dreams

Music	A. R. Rahman
Lyrics	Don Black
Book	Meera Syal
Productions	2002 West End 2004 Broadway

Bombay Dreams is a Bollywood-themed musical. The music for Bombay Dreams was created by A. R. Rahman, lyrics by Don Black. The plot was written by Meera Syal and it was produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The London production opened in 2002. The musical also ran on Broadway from April 29, 2004 to January 1, 2005 (284 performances) at The Broadway Theatre.

1 Plot
2 Notable songs
3 Musical Numbers
4 Theatrical runs
5 References
6 External links

[edit] 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.

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Musical Numbers

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 Sleeps

[edit] Theatrical runs

Bombay Dreams enjoyed a successful opening run in London from 2002 where its original cast included:^[1]

Preeya Kalidas as Priya
Raza Jaffrey as Akaash
Ayesha Dharker as Rani
Dalip Tahil as Madan
Ramon Tikaram as Vikram

Bombay Dreams also enjoyed a run on Broadway in 2004 where a notable cast member was Madhur Jaffrey as Shanti.^[2]

A new production produced by Atlanta's Theater of the Stars and the Independent Presenters Association started touring North America in February 2006.