I wasn’t far off, actually.
Street, if you don’t know, is hardcore. And by that, I mean very serious moves performed by very edgy dudes. Bollywood, in contrast, is perhaps not so much edgy as it is flirty and spangly, and performed by very glamorous ladies and keen-looking gents. I am speaking in stereotypes of course, but I can forgive myself because Break The Floorboards does the same, and with delicious effect. For example, we have an Indian mother, overly obsessed with what her neighbours think of her and desperate for her two sons to make sensible, rather than heartfelt, choices in life. She is expertly and hilariously played by Sheena Patel. Our lead, Zain, is the Billy-Elliot-inspired wannabe street dancer. He knows dancing will upset his mum, and is unlikely to pay the bills, so he gets caught up in trying to please everyone but himself, but of course, this causes all sorts of trouble.Break The Floorboards tries to cover a lot of moral, political and spiritual ground. It touches on the struggles that young Muslims face in this country; presents a fictitious far-right party who is lobbying to save such British institutions as beer, football and fish and chips (despite admitting that its members would probably prefer a good curry); and, predominantly, presents the argument that unless you follow your dreams in life, you will struggle and ultimately please no one. Although I think these are issues that can, and should, be explored through art – and especially through art that connects with younger generations – I didn’t really find myself thinking differently about any of these subjects, or feeling any more informed or aware than before.
However, putting the heavy stuff aside, the most important point to make about Break The Floorboards is that it is cracking entertainment. It’s funny, energetic, different – it turns out Bollywood fused with street dance is quite a wacky mash – and weaves a decent yarn, with a few pleasing twists in the tale. And, the music is fierce, innit.