Bollywood on STAGE

Wizcraft director Viraf Sarkari,who operates Kingdom of Dreams and has co-produced Zangoora,resorts to superlatives while talking about both,the theatre and the musical. With aerial flying sequences,special effects,digital Surround Sound,lights and 3D video projections on each side of the stage,we have created something better than what Broadway and West-End has on offer, he says.

The musical flirts with different genres of romance,action,drama and thriller,and boasts of several big names. Lyricist Javed Akhtar has written the story,Shiamak Davar is credited with the choreography and the cast includes 24 performers from TV and stage like Hussain Kuwajerwala,Isha Sharvani and Gauhar Khan. British artistic director David Freeman,a veteran of Londons West-End productions,has come on board as co-director. Neeta Lulla of Devdas and Jodhaa Akbar fame is responsible for the garish costumes.

Fittingly,Shah Rukh Khan was recently announced its brand ambassador. Film numbers like Pehla nasha,Khuda jaane and Chand taaren tod laoon have been tweaked and woven by composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy into the narrative to make the two hours 15 minute musical look like a film on stage.