Andrew Lloyd Webber’s critically acclaimed Broadway musical “Bombay Dreams” was staged at the fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta on August 8. 

The audience, an eclectic mix of mainstream Americans and Indian-Americans, enjoyed the colorful extravaganza that has music by celebrated Indian composer A.R. Rehman. 

Based on an idea by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Shekhar Kapoor, the
theatrical extravaganza first debuted in London in 2002 had a year long Broadway run that began in April 2004.

The spirit of innocent fun, punctuated with exotic locales, intriguing melodies, lavish dance numbers, love triangles and hairpin plot twists are the various intricate facets of Bombay Dreams. Set in Mumbai, the musical blends elements of Indian songs and dance numbers with the more familiar American musical theater traditions.

Akaash (Sachin Bhatt), a young man from one of Bombay’s poorest slums, dreams of becoming a movie star. When he suddenly meets Priya (Reshma Shetty), the movie-star daughter of one of Bollywood’s most prominent film directors, he is initiated very quickly into the world of glamor, glitz, romance, wealth and fame that he dreamt of. He also finds himself at the apex of a love triangle that involves Akash, the beautiful Priya and Vikram (Deep Katdare), her lawyer boyfriend.

After realizing that his dream might destroy his friendship, family ties and cultural links, he retreats at the end.

Rehman’s score, especially the widely popular “Shakalaka Baby” and “Chaiyya Chaiyya” made one want to join the company of the dancers on stage. The dances were ably choreographed by Lisa Stevens.

The show ran successfully for six days.