“She was just magical" says Anika C, while adding “Even those albums that I hadn't listened to as much, like 'Evermore', I was like, ‘Oh my God, Taylor Swift sang all my favorites that I grew up listening to. Each song is so special and unique. I had so much fun.”,  was the reaction of one of the many Swifties fans who attended the Taylor Swift – Era Tour concert film at the PVR – INOX IMAX theatre in Ghatkopar on 3^rd November upon its release in India.

The singer performed select songs from her entire music catalog. Longtime Swift fans, mainly young teenyboppers were screaming and dancing, some in the aisle, while others chose to go down near the large screen while the concert went through. It was literally a concert at the theatre.  The concert film was a revelation for fans who have never seen her on the big screen and also the closest they’d ever get to her, until she decides to visit India.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect at the theatre, though I knew that it would be a houseful. When I walked into the IMAX theater to watch the concert film almost twenty days after it had been released overseas and the initial reviews coming in, there were teenage girls, some with their boyfriends in tow (who seemed disinterested in Swift for some reason) all set to have a night with their idol, even though it meant on the big screen. Unfortunately none of them thought of wearing replicas of the themed costumes that Swift is known to wear.

Now to put it simply, I loved The Eras Tour, and Swift is unbelievably good at what she does. The movie was shot over three nights in Los Angeles at the massive SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, with around 70,000 people.

At the show, after every song, everyone clapped, even though Swift was nowhere near us much like, it was probably a spontaneous thing we usually do at a live concert. When her dancers swirled around, there were screams, after all they were performing for us, weren’t they?

The concert, and therefore the movie, was called The Eras Tour, the reason being that audiences would be experiencing all of Swift’s eras, the ones she’s demarcated with differing outfits and hairstyles and even accents.

Directed by Sam Wrench, the 2 hour, 45 minute film showcases Swift discography across her 17-year career. The Eras Tour covers all styles of music from her 10 studio albums, so you would have country, pop and folk, all in one show. The band included six instrumentalists and four female backup vocalists.

As for the songs she sang that night, be it about her ex boyfriend, advising young girls what to do and not to do, how to tease your man, she knew it and the teen crowd at the theatre knew it.

The show commenced with the Lover act. A clock on-screen counts down to show time as Swift emerges from the platform mid-stage in a bodysuit and boots. She opens the show with the chorus of Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince followed by Cruel Summer. She then hits off to songs like The Man and You Need to Calm Down in a sequined blazer, in a set that resembles an office.

After a few more tracks, she moved into Fearless, that begins with the screen showing gold electric sparks raining down. Swift reappears in a metallic fringed dress and country boots characteristic of her early style when she first started out. You then have the title of her album Fearless sung on the main stage, followed by You Belong to Me and Love Story on the extended stage which resembles a T.

The audience is screaming as they see Swift in all her finery and so close that you can literally see every speck on her face.

Her next act is the Evermore set with songs like Willow where she is dressed in a dark gown. She takes on Marjorie to the very poplar and rocky Champagne Problems on a moss-covered piano beneath an oak tree, concluding the act with Tolerate It at a dinner table. The sets are top class and set so well that you don’t know what to expect next.

From then on you have snakes visuals and dimming lights in her next part Reputation act. Her songs like Ready For It, Delicate are well received and to the hilt in pitch and verse. The crowd goes hysterical as she hits off Look What You Made Me Do, which features on-screen visuals of Swift from all of her eras trapped in glass boxes and dancers dressed in some of Swift's older looks.

For the Red act, Swift goes classic with an all red colour lighting, with songs that everyone can relate too and the most popular by fans. You cannot miss the red balloons on the song 22 wearing a version of the white T-shirt and black hat from the song's music video. For those who do not know why she sings a song 22, well it’s a song whereshe talks abouther age and while the song does produce a good storyline, it’s a hitter for anyone who listens to it. Sassy pop-rock piece in the lines of her pop mate Katy Perry comes in We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and I Knew You Were Trouble, fly high with everyone once again singing along. The loud, slightly fast paced with a heavy chorus piece is lapped up with everyone singing along.Lastly she does a 10 minute version of All Too Well that on guitar which ends this set.

The fifth act, Speak Now, the shades of purple come alive s Swift performs songs like Enchanted, Everything Has Changed and a few others. 

The seventh act, Folklore, and the one I truly loved for its beautiful set is introduced with a spoken word, of Seven. Swift climbs up a wooden cabin setup, similar to the one from Swift's performance at the 63^rd Grammy Awards in 2021 and performs Invisible String on the cabin's roof. She then hits off with the song Betty, The Last Great American Dynasty with dancers dressed in period clothing ending with August. She also sings My Tears Ricochet with a few female dancers and choreography resembling a funeral procession. She returns to the cabin to perform the slow and steady Cardigan.

1989, the eighth act, and the theatre has all her fans around me going hysterical once again as she croons Blank Space followed by the rocking Shake It Off, Bad Blood and Wildest Dreams. Her outburst on songs like Blank Space is understandable, but the most bitter song Bad Blood, a tale of betrayal is loud and hard hitting. Shake it Off is a floor burner for sure, with the catchy refrain playing in your heard long after the song is over. This is sure to be once concert favorite. Annoyingly catchy. Her vocals shine sharp and give you the message instantly. After two surprise songs, in an optical illusion of 3D, a body of water develops around the piano and envelops the stage; Swift then dives into the stage and appears to swim underwater, along the ramp and toward the main stage.

‘1989’ falls in the line of her previous albums, but it’s a bit more electronic than her previous work, driven by Max Martin's trademark drum programming and synthesizers, pulsating bass and backing vocals. Swift’s gets the right dose to get that groove.

The final act, Midnights, has songs like Lavender Haze, Anti Hero, after which she sings Midnight Rain, and undergoes an onstage costume change.

While the editing is spot on from the cutting down the 3 Hours, 15 minute concert, the concert is stunning to say the least, more so due to screen size, when you feel like you’re on stage right next to Swift. You can see, every extreme detail, from the arch of each eyebrow, punctuating a moment by running her tongue over her teeth, mouthing extra commentary in between lyrics.

Taylor's career is unparalleled and her music and influence has resonated with millions of people all over the world. She's used her platform to highlight many issues globally and recently has been applauded for her work promoting acceptance of the LGBTQ community too.

The American singer – songwriter, blonde haired and blue eyed Taylor Swift has been around for some time and has carved a niche for herself after her self titled debut album in 2006 skyrocketed her to superstardom.

Now in her 30’s many have praised the singer for her lyrical maturity which is vibrant and intriguing, unlike other teenage stars whose material is written by established adult songwriters. Swift sounds her age, is crisp, confident about her music and is a bright new artist to look out for.

With The Eras Concert Tour and film, Taylor Swift has cemented her career in the right direction.

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira