Bollywood & Nollywood Collab Births Rom Flick, Namaste Wahala.
I remember being a child in Nigeria and being exposed early to Bollywood movies. Like the by-product of a spell, I fell in love with the beautiful sensual ladies with mermaid sounding voices. I fell in love with the romance, the way the men courted and wooed the women on screen through dance and song. I fell in love with the musicals that reminded me of the golden era of 1950's Hollywood musicals. This love for Bollywood would follow me through High School and College, through different continents and life styles. Like some of my peers, I never outgrew it.
On the other hand, my love for Nollywood began upon the release of the first Nollywood movie, Living In Bondage. I must have been about ten years old at the time and it was the first time being exposed to a feature film produced and set in Nigeria. I also grew to love this genre of movie making as well with its often moral themed storyline, dramatic sequences and flashy display of modern Nigeria. So it was to my utmost delight when I learned last year that a new Nollywood/Bollywood movie was in the works. It was going to be a romantic musical comedy titled, Namaste Wahala. I waited anxiously even though it took a while to generate much buzz. Finally, I got the news that the movie would premiere on Netflix February 14th, 2021 - Valentine's day!
Valentine's day came and with a glass of red wine, some pop corn, dim lights and a big screen TV, I indulged myself and wasn't disappointed.
So what is Namaste Wahala about? It is a love story between Raj an Investment Banker from India played by Ruslaan Mumtaz and Didi a lawyer from Nigeria played by Ini Dima-Okojie. As to be generally expected, their love is met with resistance by their families. In addition to the complex love story, Didi also finds herself breaking away from her father's law firm to defend a woman who has been victimized by her father's company's top client. For the couple's love to survive, they have to overcome the obstacles in their way, and Chidimma has to prove to her father her worth in his company and in his life while teaching him a lesson or two.
I would like to congratulate Ruslaan Mumtaz and Ini Dima-Okojie for their first international movie! Also, I would like commend writer, producer and director, Hamisha Daryani Ahuja for casting two lead characters with undeniable chemistry. I appreciated the fact that the movie was family friendly but filled with innuendos to satisfy a mature audience. I also enjoyed the vibrant cultural outfits, the food, the comedic relief in multiple scenes and the heartfelt performances by the actors. Overall, I rate this movie a success, especially for the first of its kind. Africans and Indians have had a long and complicated history. I grew up with a few Indian-Nigerian friends and have encountered many Indian Nigerians so to finally see a movie that reflects this cross-cultural experience in a positive way is satisfying. Also the message behind the movie cannot be missed: Follow your heart, do the right thing and love always wins.
