Dazzling sights and sounds will take Purdue audience on journey of India’s Bollywood

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Evoking Bollywood’s rollicking energy and centuries of Indian culture, “Taj Express” comes to Elliott Hall of Music on March 22 at 7:30 p.m. This performance is presented by Purdue Convocations.

Ticket holders are invited to a discussion with a member of the artistic staff about the performance and the Bollywood movie and dance tradition at 6:30 p.m. in Room 1142 of Lawson Computer Science Building. 

A kaleidoscopic, high-energy fusion of film, dance, and music, “Taj Express” brings the colorful costumes and boisterous beats of Bollywood to life before your eyes. Having entertained billions worldwide for decades, India’s Bollywood film industry is among the most prolific and profitable production hubs of global cinema. The dazzling sights and sounds of “Taj Express” take you on a live cinematic journey of India — evoking Bollywood’s rollicking, contemporary energy while respectfully representing centuries of Indian culture. Having earned enthusiastic praise from such Bollywood icons as Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Katrina Kaif, “Taj Express” is the brainchild of sisters Vaibhavi and Shruti Merchant — whose grandfather is considered a founding father of Bollywood.

From the Oscar-nominated “Lagaan” to the box-office blockbuster “Dhoom 3,” the sisters’ choreography has captivated audiences for several generations. In this internationally acclaimed stage production, they weave an intoxicating tale of Varsha, an Indian journalist living in Europe. After traveling home to write a story about Bollywood and discover “The Greatest Indian Love Story Ever Told,” Varsha is swept up in a glittery, joyful musical extravaganza all of her own. “Taj Express” is loaded with action, romance, comedy, a royal wedding Bollywood-style, and larger-than-life dance numbers set to India’s latest pop hits and its folk-music classics. When you hop aboard the “Taj Express” you’ll embark on an exotic adventure that will have your feet moving, your hands clapping and your heart soaring. 

Tickets range in price from $22 to $38 and are available at the Stewart Center box office or by calling 765-494-3933 or 800-914-SHOW. Group tickets are also available to groups of 10 more. Visit https://purdue.edu/convocations/group-sales/ or call 765-496-1977 for more details.

Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations was one of the first professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 30-40 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theater, dance, children's theater, world music, jazz, and chamber music, along with rock, pop, country and comedy attractions. With a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media.

Source: Abby Eddy, Purdue Convocations director of marketing, 765-494-9712, aeeddy@purdue.edu 

Note to Journalists: Publication-quality photos are available at http://www.convocations.org/press