Bombay Calling

India’s youth culture is shown to be heavily influenced by the ready availability of telemarketing jobs from Western-based firms interested in saving money by outsourcing. The filmmakers explore the topsy-turvy lifestyles of ambitious, young call-center workers, who earn lavish sums (by their standards) and party as hard as they work. This kinetic documentary has the narrative values of a fictional film and holds viewers’ interest throughout.

Shelf Talk: A festival favorite that took Best Documentary honors at the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Canadian-made Bombay Calling is fascinating stuff and will find favor among educated viewers in metropolitan areas and culturally diverse college towns, not to mention Indian enclaves in American cities and suburbs. It’s a niche item, but one that’s superbly constructed and as entertaining as it is educational.