Bazodee, written by Claire Ince (Barbados)
Bazodee, a Bollywood-inspired Caribbean love story set in Trinidad, stars the soca king, Machel Montano, playing opposite to Bollywood star, Natalie Perera, and prominently featuring his songs. The film received a U.S. and worldwide release playing to movie-going audiences from Brooklyn to LA, to the Caribbean. This film, written by Barbados’ Claire Ince and directed by American Todd Kessler, can claim many firsts. By our count, it is the first Caribbean film to have an extensive nationwide release in the U.S. (it premiered in New York at the Sony Playstation Theater in Times Square); It was then released across the Caribbean, showing in Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica and more; and it is the first Caribbean musical made in the style of a Bollywood film. Following its successful theatrical run, the film was selected as the Closing Night film at the recently concluded Bahamas International Film Festival, and will soon be released digitally.