MY BOLLYWOOD DREAM

A girl longs to become a filmmaker.

The young narrator and her family, who live in Mumbai, go to the theater to watch Bollywood movies every Friday night. Real life fuses with fantasy as they make their way through traffic—in the child’s imagination, a policeman directing traffic transforms into an action star, travelers on the Bandra-Worli bridge become a crowd of dancers, and the child envisions herself capturing it all on camera. At the theater, while munching popcorn, the family settles in to watch the film and step into the cinematic world for a few hours. By the end of the story, everyone is shaking a leg to the music, with the recognition that Bollywood unites everyone across ages and cultures. The depiction of Mumbai is joyful, the small shops suggesting a 1990s setting. The saturated images are appealing and filled with energy though not quite as lavish as an actual Bollywood film. Still, the nod toward masala film—Bollywood movies that blend genres—is absolutely delightful, as is the young protagonist, whose aspirations will surely inspire many kids to pursue their own goals. Indeed, a flash-forward, showing her as an adult confidently directing her own film, is a charming touch. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An uplifting love letter to Bollywood that will encourage readers to dream big.