Watch Bombay Calling

Bombay Calling is a 2006 documentary film directed by Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal. The film follows the lives of several Westerners who leave their homes and jobs behind to work at a call center in Bombay, India. The call center, run by an American company called 24/7 Customer, provides customer support for several major corporations in the United States.

Throughout the film, the audience is introduced to the main characters: Todd, Tony, Shanthi, and Shailesh. Todd and Tony are two young men from the United States who have decided to take a break from their regular lives and travel to India to work at the call center. Shanthi and Shailesh are Indian employees at the center who provide guidance and support for the new workers.

As the film progresses, the audience learns more about the challenges that the workers face in India. For Todd and Tony, adjusting to the culture and the harsh work conditions is difficult. They struggle with the monotony of the job and the long hours, but also find moments of joy and connection with their Indian colleagues.

Shanthi and Shailesh, meanwhile, deal with their own struggles in the call center. They constantly work to keep up with the fast-paced and demanding nature of the job, while also trying to manage their personal lives outside of work.

One of the main themes of the film is the idea of globalization and its impact on workers in different parts of the world. As the call center industry grows in India, more and more Westerners are coming to the country to work in these centers. The film raises questions about the ethics of outsourcing jobs to other countries, and the impact that it has on both the workers and the economy.

Another theme of the film is the cultural divide between the Westerners and their Indian colleagues. The American workers struggle to understand the local customs and language, while the Indian workers are often frustrated by the lack of respect and understanding from their foreign counterparts.

Ultimately, Bombay Calling is a thought-provoking and engaging documentary that offers a unique perspective on the complex issue of globalization and outsourcing. Through the stories of its main characters, the film explores the challenges and opportunities that arise when different cultures come together in the workplace.