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| The sounds of music, laughter and applause are back! With the stage set and the curtain raised, the spotlight was on none other than Hussain Kuwajerwala. Audiences in Delhi saw the opening act of Zangoora, the musical broadway show, being hosted for the 1st time in India. The opening show had a packed house and it also got a unanimous standing ovation at the end. Hussain, who plays the lead as the gypsy prince in the musical says, "it was a film in theatre instead of 35mm. It was something that has never been done or seen before in India. There was so much happening in the 2 hours that we were on stage from the normal acting, singing, dancing etc., to things which have never been done like magic, aerial work, sword fighting. It looked like a LIVE hard-core bollywood film. As an actor it has been a very fulfilling and a big learning process for me as you get to learn much more than what one can in films or TV. The stage, the set-up, everything was grander than life and was on such a huge scale that it was awe-inspiring not only for us but the audiences too." Hussain surely must be elated at the response & we wish him all the luck for continued success. |
India's first Broadway-like cinematic-themed theatrical musical extravaganza, Zangoora - The Gypsy Prince, was performed for the first time at Gurgaon's Kingdom of Dreams.
DIVYA KAPOOR was in attendance
It takes about two years for a Broadway show to get ready but we put up Zangoora... in eight months." With all the masala that makes for a hit -boy-meets-girl romance, finding a long-lost price and then finally revenge -the show kickstarted with the best of what Indian music masters have ever produced with classics like Pehla Nasha from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Mehbooba Mehbooba from Sholay and Dilbar Dil Se Pyare from Caravan. ShankarEhsaan-Loy have only "rearranged the music" for this show. The actors sometimes jumped and floated in the air and sometimes shocked audience with never-seen-before magic tricks. The idea sprung into Sarkari's mind two years ago while watching a Moulin Rouge performance in Paris. "I wondered why, despite a beautiful culture, creative and hardworking minds and a history full of folktales, can India not have something of this kind -or even better --of its own?" Sarkari added. For both Hussain and Gauhar, the experience was one-of-its-kind. "How we came about putting those eight months of hard work into just two hours of show is something that cannot be explained in words," said Hussain. Agreed Gauhar. "I had first come here (Kingdom of Dreams) six months ago and was overwhelmed by the huge Nautanki Mahal. But noting can beat the feeling when I gave my first performance here because we achieved what no one has even attempted ever before," she said. For supervising director David Freeman, it was the earnestness to communicate the experience of watching a Broadway or West Endscale theatre to an Indian audience which saw him venture into this project. "Every time somebody flies in the air, there are at least three people behind the stage making sure everything goes well," he said, adding, "I have done many shows abroad but never come across such a level of musical/ theatre before. There were definitely over a 100 people off-stage and almost the same number on stage.
In one of the dances, there were as many as 80 dancers. If this experiment is successful, it will change the face of live performances in India." At a time when once can watch experts performing for free at places like India Habitat Centre, India International Centre and Kamani Auditorium, Zangoora comes with an expensive cost of '1,000, '1,500, '2,500, '3,500 and '6,000. "But look at Broadway, West End and Moulin Rouge," Sarkari argued, justifying the highly-priced tickets. If consumers abroad can pay as much as 60-200 for a seat at such shows, Indians, armed with larger disposable incomes, can surely pay '6,000 for a Bollywoodstyle musical extravaganza, complete with cutting-edge technology and visual effects," he maintained. For '6,000, the viewer will get to sink into a Lazyboy and relish butler service too.
"This production has cost us much more than what a good-budge movie costs. It is quality entertainment. It's not a show you decide to watch on a random day. You have to plan an evening for it," he said. Sarkari further admitted that this is the most expensive experiment of his life till date and it will not just stop here. "I already have two more musicals in mind which I am thinking of producing soon. In fact, if you were taken aback by the kind of special effects we used this time, let me tell you we haven't yet fully exploited these effects and are saving them for the second musical." The show opens to public September 22. The show's producer confirmed that the first choice for the Zangoora's role was actor Viveik Oberoi but denied he had turned down the offer.
"Viveik had agreed to be a part of production but for some reason, the show got delayed by a few months. Now Viveik had given us only a certain number of dates. Given his commitments, he could not do the show. But I must admit, after seeing Hussain on the stage, I realised nobody else could have performed the character so efficiently," he said.
photo Sahil Kathpal
Musical B'way comes to India with Zangoora
Zangoora Zangoora Zangoora'these very words echo the four walls of the magnificent Nautanki Mahal, a new theatrical addition to the Kingdom of Dreams, making the audience gasp in awe at the world's biggest Bollywood live musical, Zangoora- The Gypsy Prince.
With the opening of the curtain, the show takes you to the fantasy world of Zangoora, letting your senses experience a never-seen-before act, making you wonderstruck. The spectacular stage splashes with vibrant hues of blue, pink, yellow; and the music resonates in the theatre with majestic sets, colorful costumes, evergreen songs, seductive moves, spellbinding performances, breathtaking aerial choreography, the show is definitely a larger than life experience. "Zangoora is an Indian cinema styled live musical, bringing alive the splendour of India in a mesmerizing on-stage drama," says Anumod Sharma, Director, Kingdom of Dreams.
Penned by Javed Akhtar, the musical speaks of a fantasy tale about a young gypsy prince and his magical journey in search of his true love and destiny. But, more than the story what captures the mind and soul and makes you want to shake a leg are the innumerable evergreen hits blended perfectly in the story by musical trio- Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, making it a splendid musical. With dancers grooving to the mega hits like Choli ke peeche kya hai from Khalnayak, Dilbar dil se pyaare from Caravan, Bhumroo from Mission Kashmir, Jai ho from Slumdog Millionaire, Pehla nasha from Jo Jeeta Woh Sikander; it makes the musical, entertaining and interesting, keeping you awestruck.
But, this musical is no regular opera where music and dance accompanies the story. In fact, Zangoora is a perfect blend of animation and theatre. Where the screens on the either side of stage give a 3D effect, the lighting and sound makes the performance spellbinding and the aerial choreography with characters hanging from the roof is simply breathtaking. The smoothness and agility with which the characters perform in the air gives an entire dreamy effect to the entire act.
With Hussain Kuwajarewala, Gauahar Khan and Kashmira Irani playing the lead, the entire act took months to realize into a reality. "For past eight months, we have been rehearsing day- night to put together this musical extravaganza. And, it is worth all the effort, says Hussain. Well, not only did the act, but the entire concept of Nautanki Mahal took years to conceptualize into the form in which it exists now. "It took us many years to realize the dream of coming up with Kingdom of Dreams. Seeing Moulin Rouge gave me the idea of coming up with the leisure destination as India has a rich blend of culture, craft to offer to the people," says Viraf Sarkari, Director, Wizcraft International Entertainment.
Stellar performances by Hussain and Kashmira and the seductive moves by Gauhar Khan do make for a complete package. Zangoora is a must watch to experience the 4D effect of making you take into the dreamy world of fantasy.
It's not a film, not a play and not a dance-drama. Well, maybe it's a fusion of all three.
But "Zangoora: The Gypsy Prince", billed as Bollywood's biggest musical ever, is definitely something Indian audiences have never seen before.
At the newly launched 'Kingdom of Dreams' on the outskirts of Delhi, an elephant pops up on stage, the hero arrives flying on an eagle, the heroine swings down to the proscenium — of course, all this with the help of wires, stage props and huge LED screens that bring palaces and dungeons to life.
"Zangoora" is a celebration of Bollywood over the years, with dances set to popular musical numbers.
The vivid costumes, aerial acrobatics, sound effects and flawless choreography weave a tale of fantasy on the stage.
Of course, there is nothing new about the storyline of a young prince raised by a troupe of wandering gypsies far from the kingdom while the villain kills his parents and usurps the throne.
This is a Bollywood musical so all's going to end well, good will triumph over evil, the prince will surely get back his throne and win his lady love.
Does the story really matter? If "Zangoora" were a Bollywood film, I would be sceptical about its success at the box-office.
But at the 'Kingdom of Dreams', the scenes unfold in front of a live audience spellbound by the aerial sequences, special-effects and even a bit of magic.
Interest does flag in the second half as "Zangoora" hurtles towards its expected climax and you keep wondering if there is some new aerial stunt or unseen special effect in the offing.
Some of the denouement scenes are a tad melodramatic but the rest of the two-hour show more than makes up for it.
I can't help wondering whether "Zangoora" would have been a bigger draw with Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai.
Viraf Sarkari, the man behind 'Kingdom of Dreams', has said "Zangoora" cost much more than a Bollywood movie. A few millions more may have sufficed to bring in a more saleable star.
Even so, the musical seems perfectly cast with a bunch of talented television and theatre actors. There's Zangoora (Hussain Kuwajerwalla), his gypsy dancing partner Laachi (Gauahar Khan), princess Sonali (Kashmira Irani), villain Zohrawar (Sadanand Patil) and dozens of minor characters and dancers.
At an entry fee ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 rupees, watching musicals at the 'Kingdom of Dreams' may be a luxury for India's middle-class but for those who can afford it — you have to watch "Zangoora".
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