‘Bombay Dreams’ is a 2002 West End and Broadway Bollywood inspired musical. The musical centres on the character of Akaash who yearns to escape his Bombay slum and become a Bollywood star. When a rich lawyer and his fiancée come to the slums to create a documentary in order to save it from demolition;, Akaash ends up falling in love with Priya (the fiancée) whose father also happens to be a giant Bollywood director, creating even bigger complications. Akaash is forced into an impossible position of choosing between love, his dreams, his obligations to his family and their home whilst at the same time, everyone on a larger scale is dealing with the cities change from Bombay to Mumbai and the issues surrounding their identity that this questions.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber produced musical had music by A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Don Black with a book by comedian, actor and writer Meera Syal. The production opened on 19thof June 2002 at The Apollo Victoria theatre directed by Steven Pimlott, with choreography by Farah Khan and Anthony Van Laast and scenic and costume design by Mark Thompson. The show received mixed reviews but it was an audience favourite and manage to sell well in one of London’s biggest theatres for two years and receiving two Olivier nominations, before it closed in June 2004. The opening cast included Raza Jaffrey as Akaash, Preeya Kalidas as Priya, Ayesha Dharker as Rani, Dalip Tahil as Madan and Ramon Tikaram as Vikram.

After its success in the West End the musical transferred to New York where it opened at The Broadway theatre on 29th April 2004. The musical was revised for Broadway, especially the book enlisting the help of Broadway writer Thomas Meehan. Plot alterations were made, songs were cut and added some character names changed. Manu Narayan played the role of Akaash opposite Madhur Jaffrey as Shanti. The musical again received mixed reviews but was nominated for three TONYs. The musical closed on 1st January 2005.

A new production of the show was produced by Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars and started a US tour in February 2006.

There was talk of the musical being adapted to film in 2010 but so far that project hasn’t had any development.

‘Bombay Dreams’ is a story of love and passion, with a good few bops! Show it some love Besties!!!

The original London cast recording is available on AppleMusic.

FACTS:

Music: A. R. Rahman
Lyrics: Don Black
Book: Meera Syal and Thomas Meehan

Theatre: The Apollo Victoria Theatre
Run: 19th June 2002 – 13th June 2004 (around 820 performances

OLIVIERS

(NOMINATED) Best new musical, Best Costume Design – Mark Thompson.

TONYS

(NOMINATED) Best choreography - Farah Khan and Anthony Van Laast, Best costume design – Mark Thompson, Best orchestrations - Paul Bogaev