VIDEO FEATURE: "The Merchants of Bollywood" Musical Debuts in Bangkok (Complete with an Indian Wedding Exhibition)

World Tour Continues For Third Year

Plus, BONUS VIDEO of the 2008 International Indian Film Academy Awards Held in Bangkok

The highly acclaimed dance musical extravaganza, The Merchants of Bollywood, will be making its first premiering debut in Bangkok on October 22-26, 2009, at Royal Paragon Hall at Siam Paragon. Featuring music composed by Oscar-winning A.R. Rahman, the all-singing, all-dancing Bollywood musical extravaganza that has already been hailed as a spectacular success by audiences and critics in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Australia and Malaysia is now set to appear in Thailand, complete with the original cast. About the cast, the Times of London explains "Their energy is electrifying, their movements suffused with a rush of joy and yet ruthlessly precise and the frenetic flow of onstage activity is almost non-stop. It's a high-octane pleasure to warm up the coldest winter night."

Enjoy this six-minute video about the show!

The Merchants of Bollywood tells the tale of Ayesha Merchant, the granddaughter of Shantilal Merchant, one of Bollywood's most famous 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 routine by a terrific company, all with toned bellies and perfect bodies. Audiences can look forward to a cast whose energy is electrifying and dance moves suffused with a rush of joy and yet ruthlessly precise. This performance showcase the artistry of Indian Classical dance fused with modern dance genres, funk, disco and hip-hop.

As recorded by Nicholas Snow for his internet show, Snowbiz247, the cast performs a number at a press conference on October 19, 2009, at the Intercontinental Bangkok.

The Merchants of Bollywood is a dance musical with 1,200 costume changes and 2,500 pieces of Indian jewelery for a cast of 53 as well as 40 years of Bollywood history wrapped up into 90 minutes of swirling colors sparkle, shimmer and electrifying energy that excites the senses.

The show is written and directed with verve by one of Kylie Minogue's best friends, the award-winning director Toby Gough. He explained, "Mark Brady and I were dining in an Indian restaurant in New Zealand called 'Bollywood.' We were surrounded by film screens showing clips of glamorous heroines dancing in the rain in fabulous costumes. We loved the color, emotion and the exotic, energetic choreography, not to mention the gloriously triumphant happy endings. That's when the idea of a Bollywood musical was born."

The musical's final number, "It's Time to Disco," taken from the Bollywood hit, Kal Ho Naa Ho, is bound to have any audience on their feet and dancing."

The Bangkok run of the show is set for October 22 to 26, 2009, at Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon. Tickets are priced at 900, 1500, 2000 and 3000 baht and are available through www.thaiticketmajor.com or at all Thaiticketmajor outlets.

To follow the show around the globe and to learn more about it, visit their official web site:

The Merchants of Bollywood

BRIDE & GROOM EXHIBITION

Programmed along side the Bangkok run is a Bride & Groom exhibition which will showcase exquisite Indian bridal wear, fashion, jewelry, accessories, artifacts, and much more. The exhibition will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:p.m. on October 22nd, and from 11:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. from October 23rd to the 25th. Admission to the Bride & Groom Exhibition is free. There will also be several food booths featuring Indian cuisine from Bangkok-based Indian restaurants.

IIFA 2008—The International Indian Film Academy Awards—One of the most eagerly awaited global entertainment events took place June 6, 7 and 8, 2008, in Bangkok, truly Amazing Thailand.