India’s Bachchan Sparks a Highly Energetic Show

Amitabh Bachchan may not be a household name in the U.S., but for the expatriate community from India he is Sean Connery, Tony Bennett and Robert Redford wrapped in a single package. Last month he performed before 18,000 at New York’s Nassau Coliseum, and on Sunday he drew a sold-out house to the Universal Amphitheatre for a show titled “Mega Stars Live in Concert.”

Bachchan, 54, has been a major Indian film star for nearly three decades, the energizing force behind dozens of hits from Bollywood, Bombay’s hyper-productive center of film production.

In Sunday’s performance, it wasn’t hard to see why. Bachchan is tall, darkly handsome and intensely charismatic. Although his pictures have generally moved well beyond the romantic musicals that Bollywood cranks out by the hundreds, Bachchan is still obliged to include at least one musical number in his pictures, and he sang a few of his past hit songs and delivered several dramatic monologues from his more famous roles. The impact on the audience was electric, with fans dancing in the aisles during the musical numbers and responding in teary-eyed enchantment to his dramatic passages.

But the well-produced three-hour-plus program had more than Bachchan to offer. Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor, similarly charismatic actor-singers, brought a more youthful slant to their songs and monologues. And Manisha Koirala, a slim, multitalented actress, danced superbly in styles ranging from hip-hop to modern dance, while lip-syncing to a music track in characteristic Indian film musical style.

Among the other artists, Sonali Bajpai sang traditionally oriented pop songs, and comedian Johnny Lever came up with an off-center sendup of Michael Jackson. Holding everything together, Viju Shah conducted a vigorous 14-piece band that included six percussionists, while a stunningly versatile company of eight dancers gave the headliners consistently challenging creative support.