MARIGOLD
US/India, 2007, 110 minutes, Colour.
Ali Larter, Salman Khan, Nandana Sen, Ian Bohen, Shari Watson.
Directed by Willard Carroll.
While the British have embraced Bollywood and vice versa in recent years, the Americans have not been so responsive. Marigold is an attempt to introduce the US audience to the styles of popular Indian film-making. It has been written and directed by Willard Carroll (Playing by Heart) after a visit to India and his being fascinated by the country.
What if a Hollywood actress (whose CV consists mainly of films with numbers in them, like Basic Instinct 3) were to go to India to make a movie, get fired when the company collapses, and be stranded in Goa? Actually, she (Ali Larter) has been so obnoxious in getting on the plane, on the plane and on her mobile to agent and boyfriend, that we could not care less whether she ever made a film again. Probably better that she didn’t.
However, a pleasant young woman takes pity on her and takes her to a film set. The director gets a brainwave for a plot development with an American girl. She can’t dance or sing – which is quite a drawback in Bollywood! However, a young choreographer who has been disowned by his prince father because of his career choice, is attracted, teaches her, falls in love with her – and she is transformed.
Add in a vain star, a jealous co-star, a mysterious bodyguard and a wealthy family and you have Marigold.
There is a lot (lots!) of colour, clothes, make-up and adornments. There are plenty of songs and dances – paralleling the plot. There are melodramatic moments, tears and laughter, plenty of contrivance, the breaking of traditions and a happy ending all round. What else!
1.A meeting of Hollywood and Bollywood? A satisfying entertainment? Romantic comedy? Musical? Cross-cultural story?
2.The title, the credits, the symbolism of the marigold, Marigold’s name? Prettier than the flower …?
3.The Indian settings, Bombay, the airports, the taxis, the open road to Goa, Goa and the film set, Bombay and the studios? Jodhpur and the royal palaces? The importance of the décor, the Hollywood style, Bollywood settings? The importance of the affluent society? The rich costumes? Makeup and style? Adornments – especially for the wedding?
4.Bollywood and the songs, the dances? The songs in the film, the choreography? The lyrics – and the pushing the plot forward? The songs in the film paralleling what was happening in real life? Audience response to this kind of music, dancing, costumes?
5.The introduction to Marigold, her being an abrasive and impossible character? Presumptions, her career – with films with numbers in the title? Going to India, being put into economy class? Her story about her grandmother’s ashes? Her treatment of the plane’s staff, her rudeness, the man next to her, the audience applauding the attendant taking her mobile phone? Sleeping, arriving, not being met? Her phone calls to her agent, abusive? To her boyfriend, her demands? Getting the taxi, going to Goa? The irony of arriving at the office, the film cancelled, her meeting with Doreen? The firing? Going to watch the shooting of the dancing?
6.Prem, the meaning of his name as love? His memories of his mother? His disappointing his father? Choreographer, actor? The details of his work? His encountering Marigold, attracted to her? At the set, talking, the meal? Rescuing her from Jaanvi? Their being together, her being hired, his teaching her to dance, to relax, to understand Indian culture?
7.The director, his pomposity, the film, Jaanvi and his temperament? Hiring Marigold for a part? Her awkward dancing? Her changing, her absorbing the atmosphere? Her part being built up? Her songs and dances? The jealousy of the leading lady? The discussions about changing the plot, going to Switzerland, dying, audiences loving her? The wry comments about Bollywood plots, treatment, audience expectations?
8.Marigold, changing, falling in love? Prem, his devotion to her, quietly charming? His alienation from his family – the invitation to his sister’s wedding?
9.The wedding, the ceremonies and rituals? The parents greeting Marigold? The family? Her dresses, makeup, the ceremony? The prearranged marriage, the girl coming from Los Angeles, Marigold discovering the truth, her being upset?
10.Prem, discussions with his father, not telling Marigold about the marriage? His drinking, meeting Barry by chance? Bringing him home? The encounter between Barry and Marigold? The marital and romantic complications? The issues of tradition and love? The father’s stances, relenting about the films? The mother and her choice of tradition? The fiancée and her discussions with Marigold, their becoming friends? Meeting Barry?
11.The farewell, Marigold going with Barry? The fiancée making a decision? The substitution of Marigold in the wedding ceremony, the happy ending? Barry and the fiancée together?
12.The subplot of Doreen, her boyfriend, helping out – ordinary romance?
13.The ingredients of the Bollywood romantic comedy, musical? Stock characters? The Indian tradition, princes, prearranged marriages, bodyguards? The breaking through of these traditions for true love – American style?
