The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the second installment of the star-studded British comedy that follows a group of British retirees who decide to spice up their lives in magical India. The sequel was once again directed by John Madden, best known for his acclaimed movies Shakespeare In Love (Academy Award® winner for Best Picture, 1998), Proof (based on the eponymous Pulitzer Prize winning play, 2005) and The Debt. The beloved first film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie proved to be an international success, grossing over $136 million worldwide.

The renowned cast has reunited for the film including stars Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup, Tina Desai, Diana Hardcastle and Lillete Dubey.  Additional cast making their debut include Tamsin Greig, with David Strathairn and Richard Gere.

Now that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is full up with its long-term residents, co-managers Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith) and Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) have a dream of expansion, and they’ve found just the place: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. With plans underway, Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) venture into the Jaipur workforce, wondering where their regular breakfast dates will lead.  Meanwhile, Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) navigate the swirling waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two very eligible suitors, and recent arrival Guy Chambers (Richard Gere) finds a muse in Sonny’s mother, Mrs Kapoor (Lillete Dubey) for his next novel. As his marriage to Sunaina (Tina Desai), the love of his life, quickly approaches, Sonny finds his plans for the new hotel making more claims on his time than he has available. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is Muriel, the keeper of everyone’s secrets. As the big day nears, family and guests alike find themselves swept up in the irresistible intoxication of an Indian wedding.

The original score once again was composed by Thomas Newman, one of the most respected composers in the movie industry. With an illustrious career of over 30 years, Newman has scored more than 70 feature films. Coming from a prominent musical dynasty – his father was the renowned composer Alfred Newman, and singer/songwriter/composer Randy Newman is his cousin – Thomas Newman has thus far been nominated for 12 Academy Awards and has won an Emmy® Award, 2 BAFTA Awards and 6 Grammy® Awards.

Newman has composed the scores for many other notable films, including American Beauty, Skyfall, Erin Brockovich, The Good German, Finding Nemo and Wall-E for Pixar as well as The Horse Whisperer, The Help and The Iron Lady.  

“Tom’s ability to penetrate the soul of a film is unmatched; In the two Marigold films, Tom’s group of collaborators expanded to include some extraordinary Indian players and vocal soloists, creating a musical and cultural synthesis that has produced two ravishing and interlocking scores: atmospheric, surprising, thrilling, funny, haunting and entirely sui generis”, says director John Madden.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will be in theaters in the UK on February 26, 2015 (USA: March 6, 2015; Germany: March 12, 2015). Newman’s vibrant and inspirational score, masterfully evokes the Indian musical textures and ensures an elegant and delightful musical journey.