RADIO SARGAM FEATURE: BOLLYWOOD QUEEN
A Radio Sargam Special

Bollywood Queen, the British-Bollywood film by Jeremy Wooding is set for release in October. Starring former Bombay Dreams lead Preeya Kalidas and James McAvoy ("State of Play", Bright Young Things), Bollywood Queen combines all the traditional Bollywood elements of romance, heartbreak, family tragedy and relationships within a contemporary British-Asian situation.

19-year old Geena (Preeya Kalidas) has everything going for her: a Business Studies course, a weekend job with the family firm, and a trophy boyfriend.Still, she longs for life to be more like the romance and adventure of her beloved Bollywood movies. Then, Geena has an unexpected encounter with Jay (James McAvoy), a new boy in town, and finds that love can be just as enthralling as the songs on the silver screen suggest. When Jay saves her from an accident outside the family factory, her hero fantasies, and the predictions of her astrologer uncle, seem to be fulfilled. Jay's encounter with Geena opens a door on a different London for him, and on a different way of life. But, when the affair between Geena and Jay is uncovered, they are faced with a choice between family loyalties and their love affair. Can her family accept the real Geena? Or will she and Jay discover that happy endings don't always turn out like the movies?

And of course, no Bollywood movie would be complete without music, song and dance! Wooding has brought together the skills of three of the UK's finest talents to create a street musical for the 21st century. The soundtrack is an original blend of Indian and western influences. Its songs are an integral part of the film's narrative, and are a collaboration between composer and musician Steve Beresford and vocalist Najma Akhtar, who is Bollywood Queen's own 'playback singer'. The film's score is composed by Steve Beresford, and features the talents of tabla player Aref Durvesh, with a string orchestra recorded in Bombay.

Bollywood Queen is the debut feature from director Jeremy Wooding, who learned his craft making shorts, including the Award-winning 'London Love Trilogy', 'Sari & Trainers', Paris, Brixton and 'Soul Patrol'. The film was co-written with Wooding's long-standing writing partner, journalist and author Neil Spencer.

WRITTEN BY ROBEEL HAQ