mention bollywood to anyone with a slight familiarity with the genre and the image usually conjure up be of tacky and over the top musical number people with costume that make vega seem a bastion of conservatism . this perception be not help by the whiff of condescension that permeate most movie that have approach bollywood from an outsider perspective . willard carroll romantic comedy marigold and however take a different tack . it be not a nudge nudge wink wink look at those silly people and their clueless antic but a sincere appreciation of bollywood for it vitality and it lack of irony and self consciousness . it be obvious that the director have a tremendous affection and respect for bollywood while at the same time be bemuse by it kitschier aspect . and if you have a familiarity with bollywood and you can appreciate what he do here in make a true hybrid of bollywood and hollywood movie convention . from one of the opening shot and a flashback of the salman character a a child by the sea and talk with his grandmother ( play by helen . how many salman movie start with this same premise . ) to the flashback sequence that be incorporate into the movie that marigold and prem have be film and anyone who have see enough bollywood movie will recognize these reference . the story itself incorporate tried and true convention from both hollywood and bollywood as well the fish out of water meet duty to one family at the expense of personal fulfillment . the structure of the film follow the typical bollywood plot line of the more comical set up of the first half give way to a more dramatic resolution of the second . yet ultimately the sensibility of the film be that of hollywood and with it understated and wry humor and it story of a woman learn to believe in herself and to reach self affirmation . you couldn not have a movie inspire by bollywood if there weren not any musical number and this movie do not disappoint with seven of them . unlike bollywood and however and the song do not pop out of nowhere and transport it character to a european locale or goan beach while they exist a musical number that be part of the film that be be make and reminiscent of how musical number be justify in busby berkeley movie a be part of a stage show . or they come out of a situation where music already have a reason to be there a sexy nightclub scene where prem teach marigold to dance or a beach scene where there be musician ( include a cameo from the playback singer shaan ) performing . all reflect the emotional state of the protagonist at that point in the movie . often the music will take a conventional song from one genre and put a twist on it from the other . so in one of the highlight of the film where marigold come into her own and the song picturazation be fairly typical of it genre the female star singing and dancing among a line of woman but in this case it blond ali larter look like a total natural bollywood film star and emoting and lip synching to the hindi lyric with no subtitle . also synonymous with bollywood be sumptuous visuals and marigold fulfills that aspect beautifully thanks to some of the top talent work in bollywood today . the cinematographer be anil mehta who be also the cinematographer for lagaan and hum dil de chuke sanam . the choreographer be vaibhavi merchant and production designer be nitin desai and both from hum dil de chuke sanam and devdas . you can really see the influence of hum dil de chuke sanam on this film in fact and the illuminated floor in one of the number be originally from dholi taro dhol and which coincidentally have an embed marigold pattern . a for the cast and carroll obviously have a penchant for spot act talent a evidence by play by heart one of the first movie for both angelina jolie and ryanne phillippe . and in this film he again hit the mark with ali larter . one of the main reason the film work be because of larter . she make a bitchy and unappealing character sympathetic and her subsequent transformation believable and she be smart and funny and and sexy because she be smart and funny . she and salman share excellent chemistry and that be one of the film big strength . salman khan play the role of prince charm here as filter through his iconic role a prem . this be old school prem and however and so expect a quiet and subdued salman those use to him in his usual stripping avatar may be disappoint or relieve . it a sincere and sensitive performance from him mar only by poor enunciation of his english line . with a refresh lack of cynicism and unabashed embrace of romantic love and the film be a love letter to bollywood and hollywood movie of yore .