Beyond Bollywood lights up the West End

***** 5/5 for fun and fusion

Nadira Chaudhry

Vibrant colours, spectacular costumes, slap-stick humour and amazing choreography are what spring to mind when you hear the title of the show Beyond Bollywood – and that is exactly what this ostentatious show delivers. Beyond Bollywood, showing at the London Palladium in the heart of the West End, is a riot of colours and feel-good energy which will have you gleaming for days.

Realism and subtlety it is not, but a feel-good extravaganza it is. Writer, director and choreographer Rajeev Goswami has thrown in all that is epic of Bollywood cinema: stupendously spectacular costumes, captivating choreography, delightful drama, magnificent music, striking settings. He lets it all burst in an assortment of colourful lighting, topping it up with some cheesy humour . Undoubtedly it recreates the grandiose nature of Bollywood.  Goswami’s Beyond Bollywood most certainly spices up the West End.

The show is led by Ana Ilmi as Shaily and Mohit Mathur as Raghav. The story revolves around an old woman’s dying wish to bring dance to the stage of Munich. Her daughter (Shaily) is determined to fulfil her mother’s dying wish and thus she visits the family’s homeland in India where she meets Raghav.  They embark on a journey through India to learn the different traditional dances including Bihu, Garba, Kathak, Lezim, Bhangra and Kalbelia. It’s also a journey of self discovery, love and dreams.

•Beyond Bollywood is at the London Palladium, Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF.