Lloyd-Webber Plans to Set New Musical in Bombay - Reuters Photo
BOMBAY, India (Reuters) - British composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber is planning a musical on India’s financial capital, Bombay, inspired by an Indian film song showing dozens of villagers singing and dancing on the roof of a speeding train.
``I saw the song and was excited about the tune, the dancing and the locales,‘’ Lloyd-Webber said at a news conference on Tuesday, where he announced plans to team up with Indian music director A.R. Rehman to make the musical.
The composer of Cats,'' Phantom of the Opera’’ and several other hit shows, Lloyd-Webber said he was fascinated by Bollywood movies, which he had been watching for some time.
Bollywood is a term Indians frequently use to describe Bombay’s prolific film industry, which in terms of the sheer number of movies produced rivals Hollywood.
``This is the first time I have invited another composer to write a musical for the stage. I am excited to be able to explore this possibility with Rehman,‘’ said Lloyd-Webber.
Rehman, who scored the music for the speeding train song from the Hindi language film ``Dil Se,‘’ (From the Heart), is one of India’s most acclaimed music directors.
Lloyd-Webber said the musical, to be produced in association with film director Shekhar Kapur (Mr. India, Bandit Queen, Elizabeth), would be set in Bombay and feature characters from the city.
He gave no further details of the musical which he planned would premier in London’s West End.
``I have been watching Indian films for some time and I think the Bollywood culture has a lot to offer to international audiences. There is tremendous talent here and I am excited,‘’ Lloyd-Webber said.
Most Hindi films are melodramas with three chief ingredients – romance, music and violence.