REVIEW: A Taste of Bollywood

© Parry + Rekha

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra cooks up the spicy melodies of Bollywood and transports audiences to exotic landscapes.  

A Taste of Bollywood was performed at the Midlands Arts Centre in Cannon Hill Park.

At a time when our nation’s soul is crying out for some much needed healing and understanding along comes an inspirational show that offers unity, celebration, light and joy through a spellbinding collaboration that fuses Classical and South Asian music to produce a soothing harmony.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) once again proves that it leads the way when it comes to invigorating the expectations and parameters of Classical music and taking the format to new heights and discovering dreamy landscapes that keep music relevant and topical.

The latest CBSO experiment to perform songs from classic Bollywood movies is daring, exciting and absolutely refreshing. Conductor Tim Pottier displays his passion for the swirling and fiery melodies of Bollywood in such a dynamic manner that audience members were left amazed by the thrilling performance.

The first song immediately sets the mood and tempo for the show and it’s a real belter from the 1967 movie An Evening in Paris. The sheer exuberance and energy of the music connected with the audience and people were tapping their toes in synch with the melody.

For those who might think that the CBSO would only select Bollywood songs with quick and pulsating beats fear not because the programme also included soulful and reflective songs such as Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein. The haunting nature of tracks like that evoked such inner ache that it made the eyes moist.

The CBSO musicians played the Bollywood melodies with real integrity, and their understanding of South Asian rhythms was so convincing and natural that it felt as if the legendary film songs were being played by connoisseurs of South Asian music traditions and styles. An example of this deep connection with the original orchestration and pacing of a song is the way the CBSO crew brought to life the timeless song Chaiyya Chaiyya. The musicians were able to convey the ‘heartbeat’ and ‘pulse’ that flows through the Sufi-themed rhythms at the core of the music.

The song selection includes timeless hits such as Ajeeb Dastan, Badtameez Dil, Kya Hua Tera Wada, and Badan Pe Sitare.

Conductor Tim Pottier handles the forces of the CBSO beautifully, and the musicians respond valiantly to each song, always ensuring every aspect of the music is performed with sincerity and to the highest degree.

The icing on this magical CBSO Bollywood show is the incredible singing duo of Parry and Rekha. These two artists bring experience, insight and a real commitment to the material and they perform each song as if it was written especially for their voices.

Parry injects a bright and witty polish to the songs which is perfect for Bollywood, and his vocalisations had people leaning forward and smiling with warmth as he worked his way from one song to another. His vocal range is also impressive, going from dark to light depending on the material.

Rekha is a charming songbird who soars and sings with such emotion that she is guaranteed to give you goosebumps. Her melodious vocals are so delightful and full of summer joy that she evokes memories and makes you visualise the original films from which the songs are taken from.

Rekha and Parry cast such a dramatic spell that they hypnotise the imagination and uncannily transports the mind of the listeners into the glittery films of Shammi Kapoor, Raaj Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, Meena Kumari, Vyjayanthimal, Malaika Arora and Helen.

This ingenious CBSO Bollywood experiment is a sheer delight and one hopes the format will continue and be extended to include further shows where more iconic film songs are mined and transformed. The audience absolutely devoured this tasty musical banquet and there’s appetite for more.

A  Taste of Bollywood is a deliciously hot show that restores the heart and soul.

Verdict: ★★★★★

A Taste of Bollywood was performed at the Midlands Arts Centre on Sunday 5^th October