A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon the movie Bend it like Beckham on T.V. Although I’ve watched this movie several times before, it never fails to draw me in and keep me glued to my couch until I reach the very teary-eyed, joyful, satisfying end. There is a reason movies like Bend it like Beckham, the Namesake and even My Big Fat Greek Wedding will always hold a special place in my heart: They speak to the unique and also ubiquitous experience of the children of immigrants trying to bridge two cultures in order to carve out their own place in this world. However, these movies were not only hits amongst my demographic of South Asian Americans pleading for a voice to validate our experience as immigrant children, but also to everyone who is inspired by the universal story of someone having the strength and passion to follow their dreams. Movies that allow its viewers to live this dream vicariously through its characters cannot help but be successful. Bollywood Beats, the soon to be released movie (February 14th, 2012) written and directed by Mehul Shah, promises to be just such a movie.
Synopsis: The movie is about Raj, a lovable Indian guy, who is down on his luck after another unsuccessful dance audition, his tragic breakup with his girlfriend, and his parents threatening to kick him out of their home. Life doesn’t seem to be going according to plan for him until he meets Jyoti, an attractive older woman who suggests for him to start a dance class for Indian women. Raj is leery of the idea, but reluctantly accepts the proposal since it will be a way for him to pursue his love of dance. While unsuccessful at the start, Raj’s class begins to grow with students like Laxmi, a housewife new to the country, Puja, an unenthused high school student who’s grandmother, Vina is forcing her to come to class, and Vincent, a young gay teen who wants to dance regardless of his father’s objections. Raj’s dream becomes reality when he gets the job to choreograph an emerging star’s music video. But something doesn’t feel right. Raj must decide to take the shot he’s been wanting all his life or to be there for his new family in their time of need. Through it all, the group manages to find friendship, love, understanding, and acceptance where they never thought to look.
Bollywood Beats is the most recent of Mehul’s film works. This young writer/director began his love for film as an actor
in numerous plays and commercials. He then decided to study film at Southern Methodist University, graduating first in his class with a major in Cinema. Being impatient and wanting to direct his first film right after film school, Mehul wrote, produced, and directed a film called “Diwali,” a feature film dealing with the struggle of three Indian children growing up in the United States. The film sold to Netflix and Blockbuster immediately, a huge feat for a budding young writer/director. He then went on to write and direct ”Bollywood Beats,” working with an award winning international cast and crew, with names such as Vina-Sarita Joshi and Jyoti-Lilette Dubey. We had a chance to talk with Mehul Shah and find out more about how his heritage and experiences have inspired his work in film.
1. What was you inspiration for writing this movie?
My inspiration for the film was definitely about Indian-American kids wanting to pursue passions and careers that are outside the box. Raj, the main character and the film, is an Indian-American who wants to be a hip hop choreographer, but cannot catch a break in the industry. Having gone through hundreds of no’s and rejections of my own as an actor and filmmaker, I know how disheartening it can be for someone who wants to do something that doesn’t have a definite path to success. I think the film shows that Raj finds a new way to pursue his passion of dance by creating a dance class for Indian women, which allows him to realize things about himself that he didn’t know before. In my own life, I was tired of getting auditions for terrorists or store clerks, and knew that if I wanted to get meatier roles with substance, I would have to help construct them myself, which I did with Bollywood Beats.
2. Which (if any) character in your movie do you most identify with?
I think I most identify with Raj’s struggle of wanting to pursue his passion, his being dance, and mine being filmmaking. It is definitely difficult for each one of the characters to find their voice in the film, but through the dance group they all find acceptance, friendship, and family. What’s great about the film is that there are different struggles that we’ve all been through in our life, and I think there is a struggle that everyone has at one point has identified with, which will help audiences identify and empathize with the characters in the film.
3. What kind of audience are you hoping to reach with this film? Who are you reaching out to?
I see this film as having a wide audience, much like Bend it Like Beckham or My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Even though it deals with Indian culture, I think every race can relate to the struggles, hopes, and desires that these characters go through in the film. There are many messages in the film I think that ring true for all individuals, about acceptance and finding families in places where you least expect it. We’ve all felt not cool enough, not pretty enough, not rich enough, at one point or another, and I think this film will help people see that it’s a universal concept, and that we all are more similar than we think in what we want in life and who we are as individuals.
4. You have an extensive background in business and marketing- when and why did you decided to get into film?
I grew up watching Bollywood films, and really tried to identify with being “Indian,” what that meant, being born and raised in the United States. I started my love for film through dancing at a young age, watching Bollywood films starring Madhuri Dixit, Anil Kapoor, and Sridevi, and then became really interested in the acting process in my teenage years as I took acting classes. I knew I wanted a formal education on filmmaking, and therefore decide to double major in Cinema and Finance, garnering the best of both worlds. These skills helped me create and produce my film production company right after my undergraduate degree, where I successfully made “Diwali,” which was sold to Netflix and Blockbuster. Both degrees proved key in me being successful with my film production company.
5. What is your family’s reaction to your career in film?
I’ve been extremely lucky and fortunate to have my family be very supportive of my passion for the arts. Film is an entirely collaborative process, and I know many families would not have nearly been as supportive as mine have been. They have been there since the beginning of my journey, with my mom making food for my cast and crew, to my Dad helping me negotiate contracts. I would definitely have not been able to be nearly as successful or completed any of my films without their guidance and support. They have been incredible!
6. How do you feel you experience as a second generation Indian American influences your artistic perspective? Do you think it gives you an advantage over other storytellers?
I think being born and raised here, like many other Indians, I craved and desired to identify with who I am on this planet. I’m not exactly like my American friends here, but I’m not exactly like my cousins in India either. Being from two different cultures, 2ndgeneration Indian Americans are able to fuse our cultures and have opportunities that could not be imagined if I grew up in India. I think this is a huge advantage for storytellers, because it allows me to have a more holistic view of the world and cultures in general. I know the importance for character development and telling a fun story which is key to American cinema, but I was able to pull the color, music, and excitement of Bollywood cinema into Bollywood Beats as well, something that couldn’t have been done as easily if I wasn’t a second Generation Indian American.
7. Do you watch Bollywood movies? If so, which is your favorite?
Yes, I grew up watching Bollywood films from a very early age. I think the films that inspired me from an early age were Lamhe, Beta, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, and Dilwale Dulhan Le Jayenge because they showed me this whole new world of cinema, different from Hollywood films that were emotional, colorful, and musical. My favorite films from the Bollywood world would have to be Dil To Pagal Hai and Devdas. Dil to Pagal Hai is so effervescent and romantic, and the dancing is incredible. Devdas is just larger than life, ornate, and gorgeously shot, India’s most beloved epic story, which was underappreciated.
8. Which movies do you take inspiration from?
I think I take inspiration from the Indian American experience films, namely films by Mira Nair like Monsoon Wedding, and the Namesake and Deepa Mehta’s Water. Monsoon Wedding is one of my favorite films and I never in a million years thought I would be working with Lilette Dubey in Bollywood Beats, who worked in that film. It was an incredible experience to work with veteran actors, such as stage legend Sarita Joshi, who came all the way from India based on the love of a script that I had written myself. It was extremely flattering and overwhelming at the same time. Bend It Like Beckham and My Big Fat Greek Wedding are two other films that rang true to my filmmaker’s vision, of cultural struggles and maintaining two different cultures. They helped me find the motivation and the heart to know that these types of stories can be made and can be commercially successful.
9. If you could choose any actor or actress to work with in your next project, who would it be?
My ultimate is goal is to work with Madhuri Dixit in a film. She is actually one of the first actor’s works that inspired me to become an actor and filmmaker because of her strong performances and dance abilities. That would be an ultimate full circle moment for me. My next film that I’m writing is a very commercial Bollywood Film that may be considered a Bollywood “Sex and the City”. My dream cast for the film includes Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, and Anushka Sharma. Although I’ve been told by many that these three actresses won’t share screen space with one another, I think they may, once they see that this film is about the struggle that females go through of making it in the big and bustling city of Mumbai. There have been a lot of male dominated films like this, such as Dil Chata Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, but I think it’s time to show this story from a female perspective.
10. As a second generation Indian American, what advice would you give to others who want to be in the arts?
I would say that parents really do offer sound advice. Do what you love, pursue your passion, but make sure that you have a way to support yourself. It is wonderful being able to make your passion your career, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Make sure you really want it and are ready to struggle for a very long time. Sometimes it may be better just to keep it as a hobby than making it a full-fledged career. Make sure you surround yourself with like-minded people who have a passion for the same things, and don’t wait to create. We often stop ourselves because we aren’t ready for greatness, but sometimes it’s better to dive right in and attempt things we are unsure of, as that is the time we achieve greatness and strength.
