Picture courtesy: www.scroll.in
Expectations are high
when K. Asif’s legendary classic from the silver screen is adapted to a musical
play. After six successful runs in Mumbai, Feroz Abbas Khan’s directorial
venture, Mughal-E-Azam, has finally arrived in Delhi. Playing at the majorly
revamped Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, it is a spectacle of grand measure, a
fitting tribute to the original.
Though it took 7 years
to make the movie, this play was put together in a record 2.5 months, perhaps
the quickest ever for a show of this standard. I was enthralled by the phenomenal
feat of live singing and masterful dancing. It is a huge achievement to
consistently maintain energy levels throughout 2 hours and 45 minutes.
In my opinion, the true
strength of the show is in its impeccable timing. The sets were transformed
seamlessly; costume changes were flawless; and the dancers moved from scene to
scene, with a fluidity one wouldn’t think possible.
Some of the actors
impressed more than others. Anarkali, played by singer Priyanka Barve was
outstanding. Her ability to emote through her immaculate singing stood her in
good stead. The characters of Jodha Bai, played by TV actress Sonal Jha; and
Bahar, played by Pratibha Singh Baghel, performed well. Akbar, played by Nissar Khan was impressive but fell short in comparison to the great Prithviraj
Kapoor, who played Akbar in the original. Salim (played by Dhanveer Singh) was
disappointing as he lacked a strong voice. One would imagine a more commanding
voice for the heir apparent to the kingdom of Hindustan (or at least the actor
playing him!)
However, the show isn’t
marketed for its acting prowess. The real stars are the classically trained
kathak dancers. Their ability to breathe life into scenes and faultless
movements were breathtaking. Some truly impressive scenes include the evergreen
“Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya”, the stunning qawaali of “Teri Mehfil Mein”, and the
war scene where the fighting was vividly portrayed through dance. Kudos to the
brilliant choreographer, Mayuri Upadhya.
Manish Malhotra has
really outdone himself on the costumes. Each piece stood out for its aesthetic
brilliance as well as its subtle imagery. In fact, every scene was a veritable
visual treat. The digitally enhanced sets designed by Neil Patel, the
projections by John Narun and the lighting by David Lander were all key contributors.
Piyush Kanojia did a wonderful job recreating the magic of the original
melodies, as well as lending a dramatic background score. The Line Production
team of ‘Rapid Waters Pvt. Ltd’ including Namrata Ahmed and Suparna Chakravarti
was instrumental in putting together this wonderful event.
There were a few minor
flaws. In all its grandeur, it didn’t fully capture the poignancy of the
original story. The tickets were very expensive, but that’s understandable, with
the amount of time and effort invested in its creation. Some of the cast
members need to be changed. Once these issues are addressed, the show will grow
from strength to strength.
I highly recommend watching
this memorable spectacle, on till the 17th of September. Fans of the
movie will enjoy reliving the decadence of the original, and a first-time
audience will enjoy the resplendence of every aspect.
Play rating: 4/5 stars
Picture courtesy: www.radioandmusic.com
No comments:
Post a Comment