Immigrants get on the fast track

The Bollywood comedy “Ta Ra Rum Pum” takes place in that most American of cities, New York, and fills it with Indian cabbies who aspire to join that most American of sports, stock-car racing. Like its good-natured characters, the film gamely adapts to Western tastes but never loses its cultural identity, and the result is a likable but sometimes head-scratching mash-up of zany dance numbers, gooey romance (but no kissing) and random English phrases such as “awesome,” “bad habit” and “noisy birthday parties.”

Hidden among the bright colors and high-energy music are many life lessons, of course, but not the larger kind that encourage children to chase their dreams and confront their fears. These have an immigrant practicality: Spend money wisely, don’t buy on credit, go to college. It’s hard to think of an American movie hero whose most transformative moment comes when he stops paying for furniture on monthly installments.

That hero is Rajveer Singh (Saif Ali Khan), a lowly tire-changer for a NASCAR-style racing team. After he meets a cabby named Harry (the appealing Jaaved Jaaferi), who moonlights as a racing manager, Singh joins the hard-luck crew Speeding Saddles and quickly becomes a sort of Indian Jeff Gordon. He even gets a flashy nickname, RV -- short for racing victory, not recreational vehicle. Singh spends lavishly on wild parties and fancy cars, but Harry wisely holds on to his old taxi medallion. “Whenever a dream is shattered in New York,” he counsels, “another cabdriver is born.”

The film’s first half is all smiles as Singh courts the hot-yet-wholesome Radhika (Rani Mukerji), an aspiring pianist. They marry and birth two bubbly children, Champ (Ali Haji) and Princess (Angelina Idnani), who narrates the film in a chirpy voice. But when a vicious driver named Rusty sends Singh into a hood-over-trunk crash, Singh loses his confidence and his performance fails. Soon he’s bounced from the team, and the once-wealthy family finds itself nearly penniless and living in a shabby walk-up apartment.

Rules of genre be darned: Suddenly, “Ta Ra Rum Pum” becomes an immigrant drama in which mom and dad are going without food to pay for their children’s education (though there’s still time for musical numbers). Singh resorts to driving a taxi; Radhika plays piano in a restaurant.

When Champ falls ill, Singh must raise money for his hospital bills.

How? You guessed it: By regaining his courage and entering a last-minute race.

“Ta Ra Rum Pum.” MPAA rating: Unrated. Running time: 2 hours 36 minutes. In Hindi with English subtitles. Exclusively at Laemmle’s Fallbrook, 6731 Fallbrook Ave., West Hills (818] 340-8710; Naz 8 Artesia, 6440 E. South St., Lakewood, (510) 797-2000.