Bollywood, Trini
Style
By Chris Sabga
Bazodee:
The Trinidad word for someone who is disoriented or can't
think straight.
"Bazodee" is
a joyful celebration of Trinidad and Tobago – a Bollywood love
story told through infectiously upbeat Soca music. Bright and
colorful locations showcase the islands beautifully, but it's the
even more colorful people in
this film that really capture the country's spicy flavor.
They're a unique cast of local characters that could come from
nowhere else but Trinidad.
Ram Panchouri (Kabir
Bedi) is opening a state-of-the-art resort in Trinidad. His
innovative ideas have been described as "visionary." His
daughter, Anita (Natalie Perera), is engaged to Bharat Kumar (Staz
Nair), who is the son of his business partner (Kriss Dosanjh).
Bharat's two brothers, Partiv (Rahul Nath) and Nikhil (Valmike
Rampersad), could not be more different. Partiv is nice, shy, and
unassuming; Nikhil is suspicious and bitter.
Even though Anita is
about to be married, what really sweeps her off her feet is the music
of a local legend named Lee (Machel Montano). Such is his level of
talent that he was invited to play on the big stages of London. Then
he gave up music and "disappeared."
A chance meeting – is
there ever any other kind in the movies? – brings Anita and Lee
together. His music makes her so "bazodee" that she doesn't
think twice about singing one of his songs outside a crowded airport.
(Maybe I'll try that the next time I'm in Trinidad!) He recognizes
his own lyrics and joins his admiring fan in a duet. Then, just like
that, he's back in the music game. It seems a bit sudden, but if
someone came up to me and started reciting one of my film reviews, I
might feel similarly inspired!
Romance and business,
of course, will eventually intersect and inevitably clash.
"Bazodee"
breathlessly bounces from one grand celebration to the next: an
engagement party, a trip to Pigeon Point in Tobago, and – of course
– Carnival (the U.S. equivalent of this world famous Trinidad
celebration would be Mardi Gras in New Orleans).
Lee and Anita are such
good, purehearted people that it's impossible not to root for them.
Even when they're doing wrong, it's for the right reasons. Anita
is a natural beauty. She's easy to fall in love with. Everyone will
want to "thief" her away from the "Soca boy"
after seeing this movie.
Of
all the side characters, my favorite is probably Bud (Chris Smith),
Lee's best friend and business partner. Like many of the people in
this movie, he reminds me of someone I know.
There's
a great scene near the end with Lee and his grandmother. Without
saying a word, she speaks volumes.
"Bazodee" is
filled with authentic Trinidad touches. A large part of the film's
charm comes from listening to everyone converse – especially when
they use Trini slang (Bazodee, Dred, etc.). Along with the British
English accent, there is no accent more pleasurable to hear than a
Trinidad accent. It has such a lyrical, rhythmical quality to it. It
sounds like family.
Its mentions of London
and Miami also ring true. When you're in Trinidad, every part of
Florida suddenly becomes "Miami." Even people who have
moved from "Miami" to Trinidad eventually start
thinking of the entire state as Miami. During the movie, mention is
made of someone now living in Miami. I wonder if it's actually Boca,
Tampa, Jacksonville, or Tallahassee. Then again, maybe it really is
Miami. Now, that would
be a twist of M. Night Shyamalan proportions.
One
nitpick though, from Silver Screen Sister: "They acted like they
drove from Trinidad to Tobago, treating it like it was one island
instead of an island nation." I wondered the same thing myself.
Unless something has changed very recently, the only way to travel
from one to the other is by plane or ferry. Then again, these people
sing at the drop of a hat without anyone batting an eyelash. Alas, it
is a musical, so such things are bound to happen. If only I could get
away with that in real life...
As
you walk out of "Bazodee," you might find yourself singing
and humming. It's a lovely movie.
"Bazodee"
is now playing in "Miami."