Marigold: A Bollywood Film

Marigold, released in 2007, directed and written by Willard Carroll, an American, was a very unique noteworthy Bollywood movie and cultural experience; worth the 2 hours and 20 minutes. Marigold is a true masterpiece and one of the best foreign films I have had the honor of viewing.

I had never seen any Bollywood movies before this musical comedy; did not know of their existence. While watching Marigold , I felt like a child watching the Wizard of Oz movie for the first time. The choreography for the dance routines was breathtaking, visually patterned and flawlessly executed. Marigold held my interest; was truly a window into modern India as well as its Hindu based traditions. Willard Carroll through this entertaining medium expertly shared the difference between our American culture and India's.

Marigold 's plot is one most Americans can sympathize and relate. Marigold is about an American actress (Marigold Lexton played by Ali Larter) from Hollywood who finds herself stranded in India and how she copes. This eloquent portrayal of how a strong American woman learns how to rely on others for assistance, makes friends in a foreign country, finds employment and ends up falling in love is a plausible people story with solid characterization and real-life like substance.

Marigold's plot does have a few twists, but like most Hollywood musicals the storyline is fairly straight forward. The ending was unexpected. It had been years since a surprise ending actually was a true surprise for me. Marigold's ending showed how India's thousands of years old Hindu based traditionalism could remain intact with true love included in a person's life without negative repercussions or consequences to those residing in India. This also brought up Karma and how seriously regarded it is by those who practice Hinduism (India's prime religion).

The movie Marigold through song, dance and dialog between the two main characters Marigold Lexton and a choreographer Prem Rajput (Salman Khan) points out the majority of people especially in India prefer happy endings with fairy-tale qualities; the reasoning behind the Bollywood movie industry delivering these. I enjoyed how this movie gradually delivered its messages without coming across preachy.

Marigold was filmed on location at Goa, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Khimsar in Rajasthan and Rajasthan - India, London, England - UK, Vancouver in British Columbia - Canada and Global Village in Dubai - United Arab Emirates. This means that the scenes claiming to be in India are mostly the real country of India. Granted creative license was taken for location, music and script. This is a fictional piece after all.

The rest of the main cast, listed in order of credits, are: Ian Bohen (Barry, Marigold Lexton's boyfriend from Los Angeles, California), Nandana Sen (Jaanvi, Prem Rajput's arranged fiancée since childhood who has spent a few years in Los Angeles, California), Shari Watson (Doreen, Bollywood film crew member who befriended Marigold Lexton and helped her find work in a Bollywood movie so she could make enough for a plane ticket back to the USA), Helen Khan (Prem's grandmother), Vikas Bhalla (Raj Sondi), Suchitra Pillai-Malik (Rani), Vijayendra Ghatge (Rajput, Prem's father), Roopak Saluja (Mani), Kiran Juneja (Mrs. Rajput, Prem's mother), Gulshan Grover (Vikram), Rakesh Bedi (Manoj Sharma, Director and Writer of the Bollywood movie who hired Marigold Lexton when Doreen asks if he needs another actress for his movie.), Catherine Fulop (Sister Fernandez), and Marc Allen Lewis (Marc).

It was a pleasure to see all the "extras" professionally dancing and acting in the background throughout Marigold . This musical involved many people; cast and crew. Witnessing so many actors and dancers working in the Entertainment Industry was wonderful; especially since this film had a lower budget than the Hollywood movies (per Special Features section on the DVD).

Marigold is rated PG-13 for its suggestive "Dirty Dancing" and adult innuendoes. Parental Guidance and discretion is recommended by this grandmother and mother. This movie does deliver wholesome messages with a great cultural and foreign country experience; a good thing to share with minors 13 and older.

Highly recommend for those who have never seen a Bollywood movie. This is an experience all should undergo at least once. You will either love or detest it; no middle ground. For all who are musical lovers, Marigold is a "must see". Enjoy Romantic-Comedies? Try this one. It is sweet like Kiwi and has its own special endearing charm.

Enjoy!

Marigold was filmed on location at Goa, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Khimsar in Rajasthan and Rajasthan - India, London, England - UK, Vancouver in British Columbia - Canada and Global Village in Dubai - United Arab Emirates. This means that the scenes claiming to be in India are mostly the real country of India. Granted creative license was taken for location, music and script. This is a fictional piece after all.

The rest of the main cast, listed in order of credits, are: Ian Bohen (Barry, Marigold Lexton's boyfriend from Los Angeles, California), Nandana Sen (Jaanvi, Prem Rajput's arranged fiancée since childhood who has spent a few years in Los Angeles, California), Shari Watson (Doreen, Bollywood film crew member who befriended Marigold Lexton and helped her find work in a Bollywood movie so she could make enough for a plane ticket back to the USA), Helen Khan (Prem's grandmother), Vikas Bhalla (Raj Sondi), Suchitra Pillai-Malik (Rani), Vijayendra Ghatge (Rajput, Prem's father), Roopak Saluja (Mani), Kiran Juneja (Mrs. Rajput, Prem's mother), Gulshan Grover (Vikram), Rakesh Bedi (Manoj Sharma, Director and Writer of the Bollywood movie who hired Marigold Lexton when Doreen asks if he needs another actress for his movie.), Catherine Fulop (Sister Fernandez), and Marc Allen Lewis (Marc).

It was a pleasure to see all the "extras" professionally dancing and acting in the background throughout Marigold . This musical involved many people; cast and crew. Witnessing so many actors and dancers working in the Entertainment Industry was wonderful; especially since this film had a lower budget than the Hollywood movies (per Special Features section on the DVD).