Review: Come Fall in Love: The DDLJ Musical, at the Opera House, Manchester

It has been a while since I have been able to talk about a show. May has been an extremely busy month at work, at the peak of wedding season. And so my days off have been basically hibernating. Last night however, I caught a show that has spread through word of mouth during its run in Manchester, and is now in its final stretch. 

Based on one the Bollywood blockbusters ever, the musical Come Fall in Love has been playing at the Opera throughout May and June for its UK premiere. It originally played at the Old Globe in San Diego in 2022. 

And biggest blockbuster is right, as the inspiration, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, is still playing in Indian cinemas, 30 years since its original release. So, no pressure then...

There has been some changes to the film on its journey to the stage, from what I understand (am no expert on Bollywood at all), but the show is directed by Aditya Chopra, who also directed the film, so definitely some promise. And the rumour is that he always an inter-racial pair of leads in mind... 

So, what is Come Fall in Love about? 

Come Fall in Love centres on Simran, a young Indian woman who has just left university. Before going back to India to fulfil her arranged marriage, she has a whole month of freedom travelling Europe with her best friend. On the trip, she meets Rog - and everything changes. 

Simran and Rog have very much an enemy to lovers kind of relationship, something we have all seen before. But it is not just a clash of families, but a clash of two cultures and two classes (as Rog it turns out is super rich). The contrast is where the story shines, as there is some aspect that everyone in the audience will relate to. 

The other really strong element of Come Fall in Love is that the stage literally pops with colour

This is right from the beginning too. In So Far, the opening number, Simran's father dreams of India, and then the stage transforms from the grey British streets to glorious technicolour just as Kansas transforms to Oz. The same is true in Act Two when we get to India. Linda Cho's costumes and Japhy Werdeman's lighting makes the stage come alive with bright colours and jewel tones. 

Creatively, I must also mention the video design by Akhila Krishnan. The backgrounds of every city Simran visits on her European adventure have iconic landmarks like the Eifel Tower look as if they've been drawn in a sketchbook. It looked incredibly effective. Plus, pigeons. If you know, you know. Even the curtain is a visual for the eyes, having our two lovers drawn like constellations in the stars. 

I've said before that Come Fall in Love is a melding of Eastern and Western cultures. This applies to the music as well

As well as what feels like standard musical theatre type songs, there is a heavy influence of Indian music too. In fact, the songs that are full of dhols and other kinds of Indian instruments are the highlights musically for me. Some lyrics are even in Punjab. The title song sounds more right at its reprise in the second half when used as a welcome to India by Ajit and Kuljit. 

Desi Kudi, You Can't Put A Ring On It (Till You Dance) and the finale Holi Hai are other highlights in particular that show off how joyful Indian music and choreography. It's amazing to see it take up a theatre's stage like that because, let's be honest, it is a style that is not showcased very often; perhaps not as often as it should. 

This cast is also a big reason why Come Fall in Love is so lovable; everyone is likeable in their own way

(At worst you have Roger Senior, but a lot of his scenes are for laughs)

Our leads are played by Jena Pendya as Simran, and Ashley Day as Rog, someone who I hadn't seen since he played Curly in Oklahoma a whole decade ago. Seeing him on stage again was a joy, and he was great as the spoilt and cocky but charming Rog. Pendya was amazing casting for Simran, singing as clear as a bell, and you got behind her from the get go. 

There is also excellent support from Irvine Iqbal as Baldev, Millie O'Connell (The Cher Show, RENT) as Simran's bestie Cookie, and Kara Lane as Rog's mother Minky. One song in particular in the second act gives Lane a big moment, but no spoilers. 

If Come Fall in Love sounds up your street, even a little bit I urge you to give it a chance this weekend

Like I said, you have until Saturday 21st June to catch Come Fall in Love at the Opera House. I do hope it has a future life in the UK, hopefully in a city like Leicester which also has a large South Asian community. 

More than anything else, Come Fall in Love is colourful joy. It feels like the classic rom coms we know and love, but the mindful use of two cultures and ideas clashing is what tips it over the edge. Every actor is having a ball. The stage is full of wonder and glee. This could end up being the most enjoyable and joyful show I see all year... but we shall see.