Cartel Prod./Pacific Films
"Bollywoogie" (F,2007)***°°
J.Biggs, Jo & Pascal Lengagne with Laurent Tolleron & Eric Goroyan realised this small 34 minute French Bollywood DVD + CD production with music in Punjabi-style, spoken in Kannada language mostly, (with French subtitles) and in cooperation with a whole lot of people including actors and real Indian participators (and choreography). The story is a simple fairytale, a parody based upon Indian themes : two French people are meditating with others on a mountain, until one of them sees the light, capturing all, in the vision of an Indian woman dancing. Now he needs to seek his destiny, which is in fact his future wife, while the other guy not knowing what was in it for him just follows after. They were able to cut off their dreadlocks and change cloths thanks to a hidden visa-card in their sage’s pamper. The walk itself through the desert with signs saying it isn’t far any more, is cut a bit short and runs a bit too quickly before they come to the next scene, when they are thrown with attention into the forests, where wise men behaving like monkeys wait for the One who saw the vision, Mr.Koka, showing a brilliant and perfectly mixed must-see clip of a parody on Indian singing mixed with rap and monkey behaviours. Their destiny is almost disturbed, because an evil man played by Stomy Bugsy, an English rap Lord with lots of money has already arranged a marriage with the girl of his dreams. Luckily some Indian tradition still saved this destiny at the last moment, so that Koka and Kola now can dance together with joy at the end of the movie. It is absolutely clear how this movie is made with pleasure in acting and making fun of it all, while also the real Indian dances and music are completely respected. Besides, also Indian movies make fun of everything, so it isn’t too much different from their Indian examples, except for the short length.
The ‘making off’ makes the picture a bit more complete and I think is good to be concluded. It is a consistent short, somewhat introductory documentary on the fun making of the movie, which very well warms up the smile on the faces of the viewers. It made me also clear how much the music, which is very enjoyable as a mostly one-man studio affair inspired all to lead this short movie.
I don’t know if you can really translate all jokes to English or their languages, because sometimes the Kannada & French language are mixed a bit, with its own kind of fun.
A sympathising booklet with lots of photos and explanations works like a fairytale book for the movie, and is another great addition.
The CD itself is a bit longer (35 minutes), and is inspired by Punjabi music, and therefore is very rhythmic, light and expressed like a fun making Indian/French mix of pop music based upon Punjabi folk & pop traditions mixed with just a few rap styled ideas, funk, French pop (Gainsbourg!), trumpets, organ, or any enjoyable occasional element. On the bonus track (used for the documentary) they repeat the main musical theme while calling people asking if they know the song “Bollywoogie”, with rather funny bewildered or amused reactions.
