The Johnny Lever Show - Musical Mimicry Magic

By Kavita Chhibber

He has been called the Jim Carrey of Bollywood. From humble beginnings as a school drop out who says hamming is in his blood, Johnny Lever today can sell a film or a stage show by just being in it.

The Johnny Lever Show brought to Atlanta by Mark Premji Promotions on 19th March, was a 3 hour bonanza of music and laughter. Lever in an interview earlier in the day said that since he first came to US with Amitabh Bachchan in 1983, he has noticed a change in audience expectations. “ Earlier they were starving for just a glimpse of any star live on stage, today they are very discerning and I have also tried to make sure that there is variety in my show.”

The show began with the introduction of an amazing singer, Keerthi Sarathia, who combined vocals that rose to dizzying heights effortlessly with a wonderfully melodious selection of hit songs from current films like Chalte Chalte, Lagaan and Kal Ho Na Ho.. He brought the house down by singing Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s number Kinna Sona Tainu Rab ne Banaya, as his tribute to the late master musician. The emcee called him the dark horse, but this is a young singer who has the potential of becoming a top notch talent in years to come. The female singer Shreya also sang some very lilting numbers apart from a couple of duets and did a pretty competent job.

The emcee regaled the audience with poetry as well as mimicry impersonating the voices of Paresh Rawal, Johnny Walker among others. Lever is grooming a lot of youngsters and helping them come up. There was a musical skit paying tribute to Johnny Walker as members of the troupe performed to the song Rafi and Walker made famous-Sar Jo tera Chakraye..

It was then time for Johnny Lever to make his appearance and very soon it was obvious why he is called the kind of comedy. He had people rolling with laughter, with his digs at Bush and Kerry, and Indian Americans who brag about the wonderful things USA offers as compared to India-“we have a 2 billion dollar budget for out flyovers in US”..really retorts Lever-“our bribe budget is more than that!” He also made wise cracks at people who have to butt in and speak the obvious-he called it leakage problem-“oh has your motorcycle broken down” asks one such person- “no I am taking it for a stroll”, was lever’s retort! He also spoofed the latest crowding of India’s air with the umpteen number of private airlines that have mushroomed-and what would happen if they were run by the Punjabis or the Patels. He also brought the house down when he enacted scenarios of how it would look if restaurant owners and news readers would churn out their stuff musically. Lever then took a break and Razak Khan who has become a permanent fixture in most films with his cameo appearances regaled the audience with a funny monologue. Sambhavana Seth the amazing, lithe dancer who is making her film debut then set the stage on fire with her sizzling dance numbers from Ishq Samandar to Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo to Aisa Jadoo Dala Re to regale the audience.

Lever then returned and talked about how marriage is like a chewing gum-very sweet initially then you can neither spit it nor swallow it- there is no choice but just keep on chewing it. On popular demand he did his famous Michael Jackson impersonation and his rap cameo brought the house down.

The only sour spot was the lack of audience participation. It will do well to remember that these artists work long hours, have a very hectic schedule and still put up amazing performances sometimes several nights in a row and it would be very encouraging if all of us gave them the applause they deserve and a taste of the southern hospitality Atlanta is known for.