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Introduction to Ticket To Bollywood
Welcome to a celebration of Bollywood!
Today, it is a matter of pride that India’s Hindi film industry has become a globally recognized entity, and our Hindi films are seen, appreciated across the world, with their romance & multiple attractions of song and dance, action, drama, and a host of other ingredients.
India and its myriad hues are reflected in its cinema, and it is the most effective medium of mass communication, showcasing our cultural essence, history and geography. So Bollywood is an unusual blend of fact and fiction, in sound, light and visuals.
Over a thousand films are made annually in Bollywood alone. The industry is the third largest revenue earner for the country. With talent flowing in from across the length and breadth of the country, it is just a few combined with Lady Luck that breathe the air of superstardom. But nearly every Indian nurses a secret dream to be a Bollywood actor.
What distinguishes the Bollywood Industry from international cinema primarily is the high dosage of music in them. By world parameters then, every Bollywood film is a musical. Indians have a reason to dance and sing at every opportunity with a 5000 year old cultural tradition of music and dance forms. Bollywood is a classic example of India’s Unity in Diversity.
This fantastic musical traveled all over China performing to an 8000 strong audience at the Shagnhai Expos 2010 and over 15 cities, winning hearts and earning accolades for their display of talent and passion. The local audiences were bowled over by the lavish musical, Chinese media gave rave reviews, and for an entire month the troupe moved from city to city taking bows to thundering applause, standing ovations and packed auditoriums.
We now bring to ……(name of city)…… as a gift from India, this spectacular production from Mumbai, TICKET TO BOLLYWOOD. This talented team of Bollywood professional artistes bring to life the grandeur and extravagance of Bollywood dance and music. Presented in three distinctly defined segments, the show reflects the gamut of Indian cultural variety in music and dances, costumes, Indian jewelry, and is a microcosm of many decades of the high points of Bollywood films, compressed in a dizzying 90 minute capsule. It is India through Bollywood and Bollywood through India.
Introduction to Segment 1 –Classical dances of India
A lot of popular Bollywood dances are rooted in the traditional dance formats.
This segment is an expression of these classicql forms through their interpretation on celluloid. The cinema may be contemporary, but the costumes and sounds and music are essentially ethnic.
Comprising of the age old classical forms of Kathak and Bharat Natyam. Also incorporated is the Tandav, a dance form originating from of the age old forms of Kathak and Bharat Natyam. Lord Shiva’s Cosmic dance. Shiva is part of the Holy Trinity of Hindu Gods, called the Destroyer. The Tandav is vibrant, dynamic and powerful, and is a truly intense expression in dance.
Bollywood borrows heavily from these traditional forms of Indian dance when they really want to make a statement.
Introduction to Segment 2 – Festivals and Folk dances of India
The basic flavor of any place lies in its music and dance and festival lore and rituals and celebrations. This segment is a celebration of the festivals and folkdances of India.
The Qawwali is a form of musical battle between men and women. It is a fast paced, witty musical comment repartee and question answer format, peppered with friendly banter. The performers are generally seated on opposite sides and the lead singers supported by a group, each one trying to outdo the other.
The lusty gusto from the North, Punjbis and Sikhs is embodied in their vigorous dance – the Bhangada, which is a joyous celebration of the harvest, good health and happiness. Able bodied farmers, sturdy bold women, famous for physical endurance dance in exceptionally vigorous moves and display their individual skills as well. Amidst the golden harvest of their mustard fields, the Bhangada is a most catchy and enjoyable dance, inviting everyone to’ shake a leg’ when its percussion rhythms roll with the ‘dhol’- the long hollow drum.
Gujarat and Rajasthan are both states known for their colourful fabrics and fast dances. Men and women generally use the community dances to check out prospective partners. Sometimes even ordinary everyday objects and actions can be the basis for their songs and dance, that describe their lives in the desert state of Rajasthan.
The Gujarati garba and the traditional Nava Ratri festival of Nine Nights is the most vibrant festival and dance of Gujarat, the thrummning dholaks, the swirling lehengas and ghagaras and colourful dupattas all adding to the adrenalin rush the dance arouses. In Rajasthan,.
The Ganapati Festival is celebrated in Mumbai and Maharashtra state with great pomp and splendor. The elephant headed god is the most popular god for the Hindus and is a truly endearing character in Indian mythology. He has innumerable devotees who worship him with ardour and passion during his festival of 10 days. It is an annual event to remember with huge idols and decorations, and millions of people who come out onto the streets - reveling with song and fervent dance.
Introduction to Segment 3 – The Indian Wedding
Since Bollywood films are generally created as family entertainers, appealing to everyone across the globe the general plot involve families and family functions – the most popular being the Great Indian Wedding.
There are many ceremonies and rituals that are an integral part of Indian weddings, beautifully displayed in many Bollywood films . Huge numbers of families and friends tend to make weddings large and loud affairs with much song and dance and revelry through the various rituals and ceremonies.
The great Indian wedding scenario has been immortalized in many films by greats like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, and many other talents who have lent their spirit and vigor to the wedding scenes and songs in their films. This segment on Indian weddings in Bollywood films is a true symbol of the romance that Bollywood films stand for.
