Food, fun and fund-raising at Bollywood Fusion

Bollywood Fusion, this year’s main Friends of Queen Elizabeth's (FQE) social event, proved a great success, providing a winning combination of dazzling colour, great food and plenty of fun.

The Shearly Hall, which was packed with guests, conjured up an authentic Bollywood atmosphere, complete with coloured lighting, swathes of material and old film posters.

Guests enjoyed a three-course Indian meal, starting with canapés including vegetable samosas, papdi chaat, chilli paneer, lamb kebab and fish tikka. The main courses were kofta curry, mixed vegetable, daal makhni and chicken curry with naan bread, rice, salad, yoghurt and chutney side dishes. The dessert was gulab jaman (mini doughnuts in syrup) with gajar halwa, a sweet topping made of grated carrot cooked with milk and sugar.

Jay Kumar, a Bollywood dancer and choreographer provided the entertainment. He enjoys a strong reputation not just for the high-quality dance performances he stages with his troupe, DanceAsia, but also for his interactive sets, during which the audience is encouraged to join in. He specialises in teaching simple Bollywood and bhangra dance routines which the audience can pick up within a few minutes.

“It was a very enjoyable evening,” said Headmaster Neil Enright. “We very much appreciate all the fund-raising activities undertaken by FQE, and to see nearly everyone on their feet joining in bhangra-style dancing certainly made for a lively night.”

Many prizes were on offer in the raffle, including signed posters of the biggest Bollywood star in the world, Shah Rukh Khan. School staff also joined in with great enthusiasm, dressing up in outfits borrowed from a number of mums and committee members who organised the event. The FQE Organising Committee for the event was headed by Mrs. Hetal Shah and ably assisted by Mrs. Rupa Parmar, Mrs. Mala Shah, Mrs. Parul Patel, Dr. Bharti Shah, Mrs. Priti Sethi and Mrs. Nimi Patel.