(Cert 15, 110mins): Starring Aishwarya, Rai, Martin Henderson, Naveen Andrews, Namrata Shirodkar and Nadira Babbar.

Directed by Gurinder Chadha.

Its hard to imagine a film like Bride And Prejudice getting a major release in this country ten years ago or even five for that matter.

Traditionally, the all-singing, all-dancing, Technicolor melodrama of Bollywood cinema has been confined to specialist video-rental stores and art-house theatres.

Long ago, terrestrial television condemned Asian films to a late-night slot, sandwiched between sumo wrestling and the incessant whine of the test-card. Unforgivable, really, considering that Bollywood is the largest film industry in the world.

Luckily for us, Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) is here to even the score with her Bollywood-style rendition of Jane Austens 19th-Century classic.

Handsome newcomer to a small Indian town, Mr Balraj (Andrews) is singled out by an interfering mother of four as the perfect suitor for her eldest daughter, Jaya Bakshi (Shirodkar). Aware that she is next in line on the match-making agenda, Lalita (Rai) decides she will not be married unless it is for love. Soon after, she meets Will Darcy (Henderson), an American hotelier. Darcy is smitten but Lalita isnt convinced by the arrogant foreigner. Unless he changes his ways, her pride and prejudice will always keep them apart. If youre not familiar with the rest of the story, shame on you. Didnt you learn anything at school?

Fans of the book (or any of the myriad film and television adaptations preceeding this one) need not worry: Chadhas is a faithful reinvention. Typically for Bollywood cinema, though, its not the resolution that matters, its how we reach it and this is where Bride And Prejudice shines.

Dazzling song and dance numbers breathe new life into familiar characters against the stunning backdrop of rural Indias landscapes.

Chadha could not have timed the release of her film better. A resurgence in the popularity of Hollywood musicals (Moulin Rouge, Chicago), the increasingly warm public response to Asian or Anglo-Asian productions (East Is East, Anita And Me, Bend It Like Beckham, Monsoon Wedding), and the runaway success of West End hit Bombay Dreams has set the stage for Bride And Prejudice to be a big success.

It could change our traditionally conservative film industry forever, securing a place for future Bollywood films in your local multiplex. But it could just be a one-off.

Whatever the films cultural impact, Bride And Prejudice is a charming, flamboyant tale of burgeoning romance and cultural divide, a veritable visual feast.