Review: COME FALL IN LOVE - THE DDLJ MUSICAL, Manchester Opera House
Photo credit: Johan Persson
Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical is currently making its debut at Manchester’s Opera House. As part of the ‘Manchester Gets It First’ initiative, this new romantic comedy musical, based on India’s longest-running film, takes to the stage under the direction of Aditya Chopra, who also directed the original movie three decades ago.
Simran (Jena Pandya), a successful British-Indian student at Oxford University, is enjoying her final month of freedom before an arranged marriage, set up by her family to a longtime family friend. At one of his notorious parties, she meets fellow student Rog (Ashley Day), and soon the two, along with their friends, set off on an Interrailing adventure across Europe. As their journey unfolds, so does their connection, and in a somewhat familiar twist, Simran begins to question whether it’s the marriage she truly wants.
Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani have crafted the score to this new musical which, overall, beautifully supports the story and adds emotional depth to the production. The titular song ‘Come Fall In Love’ is perhaps the stand out number that will be remembered with a catchy hook. ‘Desi Kudi’ brings an infectious energy and ‘I Give You The World’ moved some audience members to tears.
With this being said, several numbers within the show could benefit from further development or be cut altogether as they do very little to move the story forward or affect the pacing. Act One opens with the sombre ballad ‘So Far,’ which unfortunately doesn’t quite set the tone for the show and lacks the energy needed to kick things off. While the early scenes focussing on university life and family dynamics are necessary for building the story, the pacing feels a little slow.
That said, as the show progresses, it’s hard not to admire its creative flair. Vibrant ensemble numbers standout thanks to Linda Cho’s striking, traditional costume designs and authentic choreographed numbers by Rob Ashford and Shruti Merchant. Derek McLane’s impressive set pieces seamlessly transport us from Oxford to Switzerland and India, supported by Akhila Krishnan’s projection design, which adds another layer of visual interest. It’s in Act Two when the production’s creativity truly comes alive, with vibrant bursts of colour and a visually striking use of powder during the Festival of Hope.
Ashley Day delivers a confident performance as Rog, the charming Englishman whose good looks are matched by moments of endearing cluelessness. He brings warmth and genuine humour to the role which strikes a nice balance between charisma and comic relief. Pandya navigates the emotional complexity of choosing between heart and head with subtlety, while also conveying the emotional weight of her character’s complicated family dynamics. Nell Benjamin’s book unfortunately weakens the believability of the central relationship, with Simran and Rog seemingly jumping from friendship to love at lightning speed, without much hesitation or pushback from their parents when they’re informed.
Come Fall In Love may not be a fully polished production just yet, with several areas that could benefit from refinement and adjustment. However, it's hard not to root for this show, thanks to its vibrant creative vision and heartfelt storytelling. Representation is more important than ever and this production celebrates culture and community at its finest. Despite its imperfections, it’s hard not to fall in love with The DDLJ Musical.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Jordan Potts