For me, it was the Broadway transfer of the 2002 London musical "Bombay Dreams" which had me shakalaka babying all over Times Square when it was over (complete with fountain at the Broadway Theater),as well as a few movie musicals at MOMA. Finding this one is a treat because it takes similar themes but presents them in a different way.

The story focuses on three young men of Indian descent and different backgrounds, from various parts of the world (Australia, England, America),one hoping to break into the film industry, another a rock hopeful, and the third struggling with his sexuality. One of them is searching for his missing brother which of course reveals a tragic twist, while the young gay man tries to discover his own identity while dealing with a possessive, lustful landlord. The one in the film business discovers the corruption involved which tests his ethics as he falls in love with a beautiful actress whose romance with the violent producer with obvious mob connections.

This has all the tropes of "Bombay Dreams" and the other movies I've seen, and of course musical interludes that are quite energetic. The lost civilization of their Bombay heritage is corrupted as the new Mumbai, and these three outsiders, even among their own culture, find out that they may not be able to assimilate especially since some of them don't know the language.

It's funny to watch the Bollywood spoofs of old Hollywood styled genres (especially a western),but a scene with the producer that starts off funny turns violent when he begins to pummel the pulled off the street director with the microphone and basically beats him to death. He then throws the megaphone to a man standing by with a tray of drinks and tells him "Now you direct." When the actor shows up to see the woman he loves, he may be too late, especially as he keeps getting beat up by the thugs at the door as she contemplates slicing her wrists.

The presentation of the gay community was rather controversial as it was forbidden in India to show this side of the culture, but you get to see enough of it to understand the difficulties of young gay people and especially the frustrated aging landlord, basically an Indian version of Quentin Crisp as played by John Hurt. While he is a bit lascivous, he's fortunately not entirely creepy and does get some sympathy. Well worth seeking out for fans of world cinema, only minimally spoken in Hindi.

This movie is based on the experience of three NRI's on their first visit to Bombay.

Krishna(Naveen Andrews seen in "The Buddha of Suburbia";"Wild West";"The English Patient")from New York drama school is looking for a subtantial role in Hollywood but is forced to act in Mastana's(Naseeruddin Shah)"bummer" film,Mumbai Banditos. Xerxes, a violinist from London, is in Bombay to "find himself" while Ricardo(Rahul Bose)is searching for his lost brother.

Bombay Boys is a film with a mature message. For once it's not on how western culture/NRI's are ruining India's traditions & values (a la "Pardes";"Aa Ab Laut Chale";"Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rahte Hai" et al)but for moving with times & simultaneously salvaging India's culture.

Gifford & Bose perform well.Naveen Andrews -"Kama Sutra";"My Own Country" & Tara Deshpande-"Bada Din"& "Is Raat Ki Subha Nahin" are spectacular. However the most outrageous yet credible performance is from Naseeruddin Shah.Khaizad Gustad's direction is great.The soundtrack is worthlistening too. Bombay Boys - a must see!!!

Finally, Bombay (now Mumbai) appears to us as the westernized megalopolis that it is. The film does not dwell on the misery of the slum dwellers, or on mysticism, but rather on the young, artsy, middle-class scene in this great Indian city. The three hip, returning "hyphenated" young Indians explore very real aspects of life in modern India. The film is very bold in its statements about India's huge film industry ("Bollywood"),Western morals and values prevalent among young people, and male homosexuality (still illegal in India). ..............................................................Indian film censorship is so severe, even though the script is pre-approved (as it first must be submitted to a board),a government censor is still present at all shootings. Despite that level of censorship before and during the filming, the movie was cut and the original negative was not even returned to the screenwriter/filmmaker. According to the director at a recent screening, the film suffered over 20 cuts and lost a few minutes of its running time, and not just for illegal sexual acts. Adding to the film's controversy, a couple of cinemas were burned down in protest of the "depravation" shown in the film (allegedly, this is common in India; the situation was worse when FIRE premiered). Undeniably, BOMBAY BOYS makes its statements in stylish, and innovative ways not common in Indian films. A real gem.