A taste of Bollywood and Broadway at Gurgaon’s Kingdom of Dreams

Indian theme and clearly banks on Delhi’s theateratti and high-flying business executives to bring in patronage.

The Kingdom of Dreams was launched on Friday by Haryana’s CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda,in the presence of a Bollywood troupe — there was lyricist Javed Akhtar,music composers Ehsaan and Loy,and actors Vivek Oberoi,Gauhar Khan and Isha Sharavani,who are also part of the first Bollywood musical that will be showcased here in May.

Kingdom of Dreams is a project of The Great Indian Nautanki Company jointly owned by Wizcraft International Entertainment and Apra Group. After Epicentre at the Apparel House,which is handled by the Old World Hospitality team,the Kingdom of Dreams in Sector 29 is Gurgaon’s second spot offering some cultural relief in the glass-enclosed neighbourhood.

“It has been conceptualised at an incredible scale and we hope to rope in domestic and international patrons,” pitches in Viraf Sarkari,director,Wizcraft. The venue is being given final touches and plans to open its doors for the public in April.

Spoilt for choice
The venue is divided into three interesting zones,which are decked with dramatic entryways. The first is Cultural Gally. Spread over 90,000 square feet of space,it offers glimpses of different Indian states. With intricately crafted walls and gigantic sculptures from different regions,it will be home to theme restaurants when the venue opens in April,with craftsmen selling handmade crafts of respective states on the porch.

Next in line is Nautanki Mahal. Constructed like a palace from the bygone era,the auditorium seats around 850 and boasts of modern sound systems and German technology. The venue will host plays and musical concerts and will also be available for private events.

The third,and the most dramatic,among the offerings here is the ShowShaa theatre. The dome-shaped amphitheatre plans to showcase epic dramas like Ram Lila. It will also choreograph mock marriages for spectators who can pay to play the bride and groom.

“It’s like having our very own Broadway. I hope they replicate this in Mumbai as well in the future,” said Akhtar,who has penned the story and the screenplay for the first Bollywood musical that will be staged here. The entry ticket to this gigantic set-up is a smart card that can be purchased for Rs 750 (per person). It can be used for dining at the restaurants,buying handicrafts or play tickets. The tickets at Nautanki Mahal and ShowShaa Theatre will range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.