Date:27/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/27/stories/2007072756720200.htm

New Delhi

Presenting a Holly-Bolly romance

Madhur Tankha

Arrival awaited: William Carroll’s musical comedy Marigold promises a pleasant blend of Indo-US cultures

NEW DELHI: Hollywood director Willard Carroll’s upcoming film ‘Marigold’ marries the best of Indian and Western cultures and filmmaking styles. Starring Bollywood star Salman Khan and American actor Ali Larter, the film is a musical romantic comedy.

Willard, who has fallen in love with both India and its films, claims to have watched more than a hundred Indian films and the best of them have reminded him of the great Hollywood musicals of the 1940s.

Describing his film as a celebration of India, its style of filmmaking and its people, Willard says the script evolved out of his experiences primarily with the people -- their exuberance, candour and affection. Through ‘Marigold’, Willard shatters both American and Indian stereotypes in his humorous portrayal of characters.

Willard chose Salman to play the male protagonist in his film as he felt that the well-toned actor perfectly fitted the bill to play the role. “I always felt that Salman had the unpredictability, sincerity and charm to appeal to American and international audiences. His commitment to ‘Marigold’ was unwavering. And much of the screenplay’s accuracy in portraying Indian family life and the Bollywood film industry is due to Salman’s active participation.”

As the film is a musical comedy, there are seven songs, all composed by the talented team of Shankar Ehsaan Loy. With lyrics written by Javed Akhtar and American singer-cum-songwriter Truth Hurts, the songs are an integral component of the film. “With a fast growing global influence of Indian movies, music and fashion and the international awareness of your country’s professional, intellectual and economic contributions everywhere, the timing for my film seems right,” says Willard.

The film is about Marigold Lexton (Ali Larter), an American woman who travels to India and finds that her life is transformed in the most unexpected ways by her experiences here. When she cannot finance her low-budget Hollywood movie, Marigold tries her luck in the Hindi film industry and manages to get a small role in a Bollywood musical. Eager to make a mark in the Hindi film industry, she seeks the help of Prem (Salman Khan), the film’s choreographer.

Marigold gets besotted with him but soon discovers that he will be having an arranged marriage with an Indian girl. Unable to deal with this development, Marigold leaves Prem’s family estate.