Bollywood comes to Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysians will be treated to a world class performance when “The Merchants of Bollywood” hits Malaysian shores this coming July. This international production is a dance musical with 53 cast and dancers, 1,200 costume changes including 2,500 pieces of Indian jewellery and 40 years of Bollywood history wrapped up into 90mins of swirling colours, sparkle, shimmer, and electrifying energy.

Featuring music composed by Oscar-winning composer A.R Rahman, this Bollywood musical extravaganza has already been hailed as a spectacular success by audiences and critics in United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa and Australia. It makes its debut and only stop in Asia in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Festival 2009.

The show is written and directed with verve by one of Kylie Minogue’s best friends, the award-winning director, Toby Gough. “The Merchants of Bollywood” tells the tale of Ayesha Merchant, the granddaughter of Shantilal Merchant, one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed choreographers from the Hindi film industry’s golden era.

Shantilal has taught Ayesha Indian Classical dance in their home in Rajasthan, but Ayesha has dreams of making her name in Bollywood. Ayesha then abandons home for Mumbai and finds great success in films. However, the emotional pull of her ailing grandfather and her childhood sweetheart Uday, lure her home.

The narrated story unfolds in the form of high-energy dance routines, by a terrific company – all with toned bellies and perfect bodies. Audiences can look forward to a cast whose energy is electrifying and musical artistry of Indian Classical dance fused with modern dance genres, funk, disco and hip-hop, bound to have any audience on their feet and dancing!

The Merchants of Bollywood will be held in Malaysia from July 14 to 26, 2009 at the Istana Budaya. Tickets are priced from RM75 to RM 503 and are available through www.ticketpro.com.my or TICKETPRO hotline 03-7880 7999.