Frankie Goes to Bollywood at Southbank Centre

London’s latest musical from Rifco Theatre Company, Frankie Goes to Bollywood, attempts to dazzle with plenty of melodic songs, gorgeous costume designs and enthusiastic dance numbers.

Benidorm’s Laila Zaidi stars as the lead, a young woman working in a cinema in Milton Keynes, grieving the sudden loss of her mother. Spending the days shifting popcorn, with her cousin sister Goldie (Katie Stasie), the pair are fed up with their dead-end job, the latter planning her breakthrough in Bollywood. Yet it is Frankie (as the eponymous title reflects) who has a whirlwind adventure when she is discovered by filmmaker Prem (Navin Kundra) and makes her way to the colourful sets of Bollywood and stardom.

There she quickly gets cast for films, beside the main hero of popular cinema, Raju King (RK for short) played brilliantly by Geet Sagar, a self-entitled mummy’s boy, with a secret. Married to him is Malika (Helen K Wint) who remains steadfast in her fight against patriarchy and the misogynistic values ingrained in Bollywood; the film studios have a quick turnover, preferring younger female actors over older counterparts.

Some of the script comes across prosaic, while other sections are a little more effective, and the set design is minimal at first with cast members pushing light stands on and off the stage, which doesn’t work in the production’s favour. However, as the musical develops, the stage becomes creatively attuned, and the songs – although great in number – are beautifully composed by Niraj Chag and Tasha Taylor Johnson, sung in Hindi and English respectively; though the former adds authenticity, and the latter just sounds cheesy.

While Frankie is in Bollywood, she is doubtful of her talents, but these uncertainties eventually fade, leaving a very confident, albeit slightly more conceited, individual. RK is manipulative and toxic, (although his character is written with a humorous tone) and conjures up a deal that Frankie has to sign if she wants any success. This arrangement places her within the family, and although RK is married to Malika, he uses Frankie for his own gains. These threads of truth are interweaved throughout the production, reflecting Bollywood’s real-life drama and treatment of its actors.

There are gorgeous dance sequences, one scene involving three saris depicting mountains, a burnished sunset and a field of flowers, while the stage is evocative of Indian palaces. Although it is admirable that Pravesh Kumar explores complex subject matters, and the superficial gimmicky nature of Bollywood is portrayed realistically, no amount of flash and splendour can save this show from its tedious nature, akin to some of those films released every Friday in India which just lack the punch.

Selina Begum
Photos: Rich Lakos

Frankie Goes to Bollywood is at Southbank Centre from 31^st July until 18^th August 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.