Bollywood Masala at the Palais des Congrès: a spellbinding Indian musical

At the Palais des Congrès, Bollywood Masala combines cinema, dance and Indian gastronomy in a festive musical comedy to be seen from December 18, 2025 to January 8, 2026.

From Toby Gough, the director behind The Fabulous Story of Bollywood and Taj Express, Bollywood Masala promises to be a colorful new musical fresco. Created in Bombay, the cradle of Indian cinema, this show blends romance, humor, spectacular choreography and tributes to Bollywood classics. On stage at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, from December 18, 2025 to January 8, 2026, this creation spotlights the fictional character of the Maharaja of Masala, a legendary figure in Indian cinema and cuisine.

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The story follows the adventures of Mr. Kari Balti, an eccentric and visionary Indian chef nicknamed the Maharaja of Masala. Famous for inventing on-set catering in the early days of the Indian film industry, he becomes an emblematic character in a story that blends memories, nods to cinema, popular songs and folklore. Through his journey, the show pays tribute to the world of Indian cinema and its typical ingredients: passionate love, slapstick humor, family drama and contagious energy.

Bollywood Masala is designed for an inter-generational audience, and will appeal to all those who love grand musical frescoes, rhythmic choreography and exotic worlds. The show is based on the traditional formula of the "masala movie", where genres and emotions mix without hierarchy. Audiences familiar with films such as Devdas, Lagaan, Dhoom and RRR will find their favorite songs, including the Oscar-winning "Naatu Naatu". Featuring dancers from Bollywood's top troupes, who have shared the stage with the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, the show boasts an aesthetic faithful to the tradition of Indian cinema, yet accessible to a neophyte audience.

With Bollywood Masala, the Palais des Congrès welcomes a flamboyant musical from Bombay, combining song, dance, humor and cinematic highlights. Conceived as a festive family show, this journey to the heart of popular India enthusiastically combines the codes of Indian masala with the expectations of an international audience in search of escape.

This article is based on information available to the public prior to the show's premiere. It has been written without prior viewing of the play.

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