Salaam Bombay Dreams DVD...and a question?

I recently purchased this wonderful DVD. I went to NYC last December and chose to see Little Women over Bombay Dreams, so I got the DVD to see what I missed. What a great DVD...but a tease...they show parts of the London production, but have an entire, over 4 hours, documentary on the making of it. From scratch to opening night. I am really impressed with the score and the energy. Raza Jeffery is impressive too.

My question is...why don't more shows make DVD's like this? Could you imagine how much money Wicked or Ave Q could make? Why don't more shows have DVD-styled extra footage? Is there a union law that disallows it?

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I would think that it's a big gamble to make a dvd like Bombay Dreams's for these reasons:
1- The target audience would be only theatre people like us which is not that big
2-It's expensive to make
3-While making the documentary, no one knows if the show will be a hit or a complete flop. If it's a hit, it might sell a lot...but if it's a complete flop not many people would want to see it and then all the money that was put into the project goes down the drain.


Edit: Amazon sells the bombay dreams dvd.

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Updated On: 4/23/05 at 09:35 PM

Chinkie...as a retort to your 3rd point, isn't wise to document or create a history of any body of work, regardless of it's success?

I did get a feel from the DVD that it was done at little cost. The behind the scene stuff is great, the interviews are a bit long, but everytime they showed a rehearsal or performance it was amazing to watch. I love the workings, behind the scenes, of a musical, that is the best part of it for me.

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simplejoys- No I did not see the show! I REALLY wanted to because I have heard some of the music and LOVED it! But I think I will prob. order this. Thanks!

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If that what ALW does...it is a GREAT idea. I think everyone likes to take a bit of a good show home with them. Maybe I am just a video generation baby.

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ShuQ...do you have a website that gave that information? I'd like to check in on it to see when they are coming to Los Angeles. Thanks.

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Does anybody have a website link or web address to see the Bombay Dreams tour schedule? Help me...I need to 'Shakalaka'!!

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really? i might see it... if i have money to burn.

The Bombay Dreams tour will also be in Houston. I hope it comes to Chicago! I would love to see this delightful show again.

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TheaterManic..."something is better than nothing", was the Broadway cast superior to the London cast? Can you tell me more about it? I am soaking up this DVD, and the show, like a sponge...I need more info.

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That's basically the story. I can only judge from what I saw on Broadway to what I've heard on the London CR and seen on the DVD. I would have loved to have had something of the Broadway cast to take away (cast recording, DVD... how about a poster with the actual actors in the show on it?), especially since it closed. While the DVD is good, what is lacking is something tangible from Broadway. In my opinion, we had better singers on Broadway. Also, for example, Chaiyya Chaiyya was one of the songs that used pre-recorded music (like Shakalaka Baby) in the London Version whereas on Broadway it was done live. There is a small clip of that on the Bombay Dreams website. Little things like that where I say, at least they have some great rehearsal footage -- but at the same time I'm like, "oh, but so-and-so did it better". That's what I meant.

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2 questions...

1. Why did the London show have pre-recorded music?

2. Have the choreographers done any other shows since Bombay Dreams?

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The London production used 2 precorded tracks. Chaiyya Chaiyya was lip syched in London, but was done live in NY.

Farah Khan is still a huge director/choreographer in Bollywood. Anthony van Laast is still around in his native West End.

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