Bombay Talkies 2: A Beautifully Crafted Celebration of Hindi Cinema With Music, Memories, and Magic

There are theatrical experiences that entertain you, and then there are those that transport you to a place filled with joy and nostalgia. “Bombay Talkies 2,” a Naatak original (Season 31) written and directed by Sujit Saraf, belongs firmly in the latter category. This beautifully crafted celebration of Hindi cinema takes audiences on a rollicking journey, from the 1940s through the 1990s, bringing together more than 50 songs and dances, memorable film sequences, fascinating anecdotes, and the larger-than-life personalities who shaped Bollywood.

I was lucky to attend the opening show on September 12 at the Cubberley Theatre in Palo Alto with friends and family. Having seen the first “Bombay Talkies” and witnessed the standing ovations and affection it received, our expectations were high, our excitement palpable, and our faces beaming with anticipation. And the sequel was electrifying!

I had an almost perfect view of the stage and the live orchestra positioned on either side. I could see every expression, every bit of banter, every dance move, and even the occasional eyebrow twitch of the performers. The sound was balanced, allowing the live music to envelop us without overwhelming the voices or dialogue. Before long, the audience was laughing, clapping, and singing along. 

That sense of shared joy is perhaps the greatest strength of “Bombay Talkies 2.” It doesn’t simply recreate Bollywood; it recreates the shared experience of growing up with Bollywood films and the memories of what people were doing in their life, while standing in lines to watch them in theaters.

The journey begins with Kishore Kumar (Nachikera Yakundi) and “Jhumroo.” Kishore arrives with his trademark energy, eccentric dancing, pantomime, and larger-than-life personality. Director Saraf shared a wonderful story about once asking an 18-year-old student at IIT Delhi to find him an audio cassette of “Jhumroo.” The student didn’t know who Kishore Kumar was or recognize the song. The encounter made Saraf realize how distant some younger generations had become from the music that had defined his own world.

That realization seems to have become part of the spirit behind this production. “Bombay Talkies 2” is not only a nostalgic trip for those who listened to these songs on Binaca Geetmala; it is also an introduction to the magic of Hindi cinema for audiences who may know these stars and songs only through their parents and grandparents.

From Kishore Kumar, the production moves through the story of Lata Mangeshkar and her family, offering little nuggets of history along the way. We learn about her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar, the origin of the family surname, and the story behind Lata’s name. These beautiful details are woven into the larger tapestry of Hindi cinema.

And then come the scenes that make the audience erupt.

Fourteen more shows of Naatak’s “Bombay Talkies 2” run through October 4 at the Cubberley Theatre in Palo Alto. Tickets are available through Naatak’s ticket portal.

The “Padosan” sequence, with Kishore Kumar, Sunil Dutt, and the hilarious attempts to teach Sunil Dutt how to sing, is an absolute delight. The “Deewaar” scene featuring Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan elicited immediate applause when the famous dialogue, “Mere paas maa hai,” was delivered. A young Aamir Khan (Vihaan Ailiani) appears dancing to “Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega” from “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak,” bringing a round of thunderous applause, while other glamorous heroines, including Rekha (Mehul Smriti Raje) and Zeenat Aman, make memorable appearances.

The production has an infectious rhythm. One moment, we are listening to a story about a legendary actor; the next, the stage explodes into music and dance. There are guitars, choreography, comic performances, dramatic dialogues, and live singing. The transitions keep the momentum moving, and there truly seems to be very little downtime. I was simply blown away by the synchronicity of the team and by how much everyone seemed to love putting on a great show!ears on stage, his face hidden behind dark glasses. He has come from Delhi to Bombay in pursuit of his girlfriend, who apparently does not want him to become a film star. Played by Sujit Saraf himself, the character’s appearance feels less like an ending and more like a tantalizing curtain raiser.

Could this be the beginning of the next chapter?

After taking us from the early talkies through the golden age in the first “Bombay Talkies,” “Bombay Talkies 2” expands the journey into the decades of Kishore Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, and the changing face of popular Hindi cinema. If the first production felt more like a nostalgic history of how Bollywood was built, the second is a bigger, faster, and more exuberant celebration of why audiences fell in love with it. And now, with that mysterious Delhi newcomer stepping onto the stage, the production seems to be quietly setting the stage for “Bombay Talkies 3,” with  the arrival of a certain “King Khan.” If that is indeed where Sujit Saraf is taking us next, the audience is already waiting for the next chapter of Raghu’s extraordinary journey.

Fourteen more shows of Naatak’s “Bombay Talkies 2” run through October 4 at the Cubberley Theatre in Palo Alto. Tickets are available through Naatak’s ticket portal. 

Playwright: Sujit Saraf
Director: Sujit Saraf
Producer: Soumya Agastya
Music Director: Nachiketa Yakkundi
Language: Hindi, with English supertitles

Photos, courtesy of Kyle Adler, kadlerphotography.com

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Dr. Abha Soni is a physician new to the Bay Area, who specializes in diagnosing skin diseases. Outside of work, she finds joy in sharing stories about her experiences and attending social and cultural events. She is also passionate about food, beauty/skincare, and travel blogging. Her artistic sensibilities find expression through visual art, music, and singing, which enrich her multifaceted life beyond medicine.