The Sunday Mail
Takudzwa Chihambakwe Leisure Correspondent
“Our stay in Zimbabwe has been very good, the people have been very warm and friendly. This Bollywood Extravaganza is a production about Indian tradition, love and happiness. It was good then to see the crowd giving us a hearty reception and sang along to some tracks they knew, proving that Zimbabweans do watch Indian movies.”
THE recent Bollywood Extravaganza, which was part of the inaugural “India in the Sunshine City” lacked the exuberance Indian performers are known for.
When the approximately 90-minute musical show started, with a series of energetic performances from the cast of 24 comprising mainly locals and five touring Indians from production company Teamwork Arts, it appeared the audience was set for a treat.
With the audience’s appetite adequately whetted, it was time for popular actor Shah Rukh Khan and actress Kangana Ranaut to belt it out like they do in their Bollywood movies.
But sadly, this was not the case.
From the lively mid-tempo intro, the show slumped into a zone of uncertainty where the two lead vocalists both from India failed to connect with the crowd. They just did not have the chemistry that most Bollywood actors have when they perform duets, which create a tangible ambiance of love — the reason why most Zimbabwean women easily get hooked to Bollywood productions.
However, kudos to the two: they have powerful melodious vocals. They got all their notes on point and showed off their vocal dexterity as they occasionally dropped some sophisticated adlibs in true Bollywood style.
As for the locals, it was clear that they had been in camp for just a few days, because though they had grasped the technical elements of the dances they had not embraced the spirit of Bollywood as they were not fully committed to their characters.
“The idea behind this show was to collaborate with dancers from Harare and show that anyone can dance to Bollywood music and also showcase the different shades of Bollywood dance,” said choreographer Gilles Chuyen.
“I really enjoyed the process. Though it was challenging to create the show in just a week, the local dancers proved they were up for the task as they quickly grasped the routines and throughout the rehearsals they had a very positive spirit and great work ethic, which made the job easier.”
The influence of Bollywood on Zimbabwe was also evident as Reps Theatre was packed to capacity as folks came out to experience Indian dance and music.
“Our stay in Zimbabwe has been very good, the people have been very warm and friendly. This Bollywood Extravaganza is a production about Indian tradition, love and happiness. It was good then to see the crowd giving us a hearty reception and sang along to some tracks they knew, proving that Zimbabweans do watch Indian movies,” said one of the lead singers, Mukesh Tomar.
On why Indians actors love fusing dance and music into their works, Tomar said, “The whole factor of dance and singing is a feeling we will be trying to express. At times words cannot be comprehended by the viewer but once you fuse in dance and song anyone can relate to your message”.
“India in the Sunshine City” is a festival meant to celebrate the close ties Zimbabwe and India share through an interactive festival showcasing the best of India’s cultural dynamism through music, theatre, dance, films, food and wellness.
The festival also aims to promote mutual understanding and to strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
