InvAsian Festival: It Ain't All Bollywood

Bollywood films frequently make it into the UK top-ten, and Hollywood studios have started moving into the commercial Indian film industry. It Ain’t all Bollywood examines why these films are becoming more popular, why people get lost in them, and what effect this type of melodrama can have on real life, particularly for the British Asian community.

Cue Kiran, a young woman who hasn’t left the house since the death of her beloved father. Hiding from her neurotic mother and the harshness of her surroundings, Kiran becomes obsessed with the vibrant and colourful world of Bollywood. That is, until the rekindling of an old friendship with Irish schoolfriend and delivery boy, Tony, teaches Kiran to step out of the films and back into real life.

Produced by Rifco arts, a company devoted to reflecting and celebrating the experience of the contemporary British Asian, this play certainly lives up to its aspirations. Kiran, played by Rina Fatania is a fascinating character whose personality deftly reveals traits of both her Asian and British roots. This stands in stark contrast to her mother, also played by Fatania, who is unable to stray from her superstitions and misinterprets Kiran’s mental health issues as possessions by demons, or some karmic payback. The decision to have one actress play both roles is a good one; it makes for a bold statement which emphasises the wide gap between generations, and the issues this raises in terms of cultural and social values.

It Ain’t all Bollywood, is a charming feel-good play which raises important issues facing the British Asian community. However, its lessons are not confined to one section of society, as demonstrated by comic book fanatic Tony. We all have our ways to escape, the trick is, not to lose yourself on the way back to reality.