Mississauga residents can catch free concerts, dance performances and an outdoor Bollywood film at Celebration Square from July 24 to 26, as BollywoodMonster Mashup expands to three days for the first time.
Hello Namaste reported that the festival will feature the only Canadian performance of Jolly Mukherjee’s touring R.D. Burman Tribute Show. Mukherjee will be joined by Priyanka Mitra, a finalist from Season 6 of Indian Idol, for the Friday program.
The festival schedule runs from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, July 24; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 25; and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. Those are the hours for each day’s programming, rather than individual performance times.
Mukherjee is known for songs including “Chandni O Meri Chandni” and “Aaj Hum Tum O Sanam.” Festival founding director Vikas Kohli said Friday’s tribute will include R.D. Burman favourites such as “Chura Liya Hai” and “Mehbooba Mehbooba.”
Saturday’s program will finish with a free concert by Neeraj Shridhar, whose songs include “Love Mera Hit Hit” and “Chor Bazari.” Kohli also highlighted “Bhool Bhulaiyaa” and “Twist” among the singer’s 2000s hits.
New Sunday program includes outdoor movie
The added Sunday will feature a free outdoor screening of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. A free Bollywood fashion show and a SuperDogs performance are also scheduled that day.
Across the weekend, the lineup includes Bollywood, folk and traditional dance, along with performances incorporating Kollywood and Tollywood music.
The Bakshi Sisters will perform an East-meets-West fusion set, while DDA Canada’s dance program will combine Bollywood and Tollywood. Toronto Jamming Culture will lead a community singalong featuring Bollywood songs.
Other scheduled acts include Moksha the Band, blending Bollywood and Western songs in a Bolly-Jazz performance, and Kalakaar Collective with a Sufi-and-Bollywood fusion set. The Burlington Gujarati Ladies Group will present a Gujarati dance performance in collaboration with Halton Community and Cultural Association.
Managing director Ev Harris said the festival will involve more than 200 performers and more than 40 vendors. South Asian food offerings mentioned in the announcement include momos, pav bhaji and samosas.
Saturday will also include food contests with a food-filled gift basket as a prize. A separate spinwheel activity is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. that day, offering a chance to win cash prizes of up to $200, with no purchase required.
Further festival information and an RSVP option are available through the concerts section of BollywoodMonsterMashup.com.
