Latest news with #AadyamTheatre
Mint
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Mumbai Star': A musical play that tries to rise above the cliches
The seventh edition of Aadyam Theatre Festival features, among other plays, a musical, Mumbai Star, directed by Nadir Khan. The story of an underdog, this production was conceived as a project by the Min-On Concert Association, Tokyo, and it has now come to India with a renewed vision. When you start watching the newly-minted Mumbai Star, you instinctively know what to expect. The story is full of every imaginable Hindi film trope possible. A young boy, Dev, from a coastal village in Maharashtra, hopes to make it big in Maximum City. The story takes you through hardships in the city, young love, discovery of a mentor, and a reality show that promises to transform lives. There is also friendship, conflict, and opposition to the love story. Produced by Devika Shahani and choreographed by Avantika Bahl, the cast features 15 dancers and two actors— Rajit Kapur and Srishti Shrivastava. From its earlier dance musical avatar that toured Japan in 2023, it has been reimagined with a fresh narrator's arc by Akarsh Khurana and Arghya Lahiri. Mumbai Star is an exercise in scale and excesses with theatrics that have little to do with the story. But it delivers exactly what it promises— the experience of a Western dance musical rooted in a modern Indian context. And it does it through a guru-shishya story embedded in Kathak, a dance form that Shahani wanted to include in the performance. Also read: Weekly planner: 6 events to beat the blues Khan makes no qualms about the cliches in the play. He is joyful in the rehearsal room and as much a cheerleader of the cast as its director. 'I believe there is no story that has not been told. But the telling is brand new," he says. 'I see myself as a sponge, trying to absorb and learn everything I can. With this production, it's been an immersion into the world of dance. And we've only just got a foot in the door," he says. Khan had earlier directed Sing India Sing, a large-scale musical produced by Aadyam Theatre in 2018. 'That was my baptism by fire. It was unfamiliar territory. But, it's storytelling at the end of the day," he adds. The 11 songs, composed by Dhruv Ghanekar, have been sung by leading vocalists like Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala and Nakash Aziz. The Kathak pieces have been guest-choreographed by Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Uma Dogra. To portray the versatility of the dance landscape of the country, the performance also features jazz, and hip-hop, with the occasional romantic ballad. Choreographer Avantika Bahl was at first intimidated by the idea but soon got on board. 'It was a combination of forms that we wanted to bring on the stage. It has a little bit of everything, and that is an accurate representation of the dance world," she says. Most of her learnings stemmed from the scale and the idea of looking beyond choreography and composition. 'With a dance show, the primary language is the physical vocabulary. Here we were at the crossroads of music, storytelling and dance. The idea was for them to hold hands and take the story forward," she says. Kapur is a joy to watch on stage and brings a few laughs to the show. While he and Shrivastava add much-needed depth to the narrative and deliver heartwarming performances, the focus remains on the dance numbers. The songs are pre-recorded, and unlike most musical theatre shows, there is no live singing. Avenav Mukherjee steals the show as Dev, who evolves from a vulnerable boy into an overconfident performer. Shahani believes her strength lies in building a great team. 'The most important thing is to get people, who come into the room with their whole soul," she says. 'Mumbai Star' will be performed on 25 May at the St Andrew's Auditorium, Mumbai, 4 pm and 7.30 pm and on 14-15 June at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi, 7.30 pm. Prachi Sibal is a Mumbai-based culture writer. Also read: What to watch this week: 'Pee-Wee as Himself', 'Leila's Brothers' and more
Mint
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Weekly planner: 6 events to beat the blues
The latest edition of Kendra Dance Festival looks at stories from history and mythology that have endured over time. Organised by New Delhi-based cultural institution Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, this showcase features performances such as Meera, Parikrama and Karna. Produced and directed by Shobha Deepak Singh, the festival features the Kendra Dance Repertory, an ensemble of 15 artists trained in a style that brings together Kathak, Odissi, Mayurbhanj Chhau and various folk forms. This is the first time that the festival has introduced ticketed entry to highlight the value of live performances. At Kamani Auditorium, Mandi House, New Delhi, 25-28 May, 7-8.30pm. A painting by Nandalal Bose on show at the 'Indian Modern Art: Evolution of Narratives' exhibition. Art Exposure, Kolkata, is presenting Indian Modern Art: Evolution of Narratives, a survey of artists whose practices shaped the contours of modern Indian art. The featured artists include Gaganendranath and Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, F.N. Souza and Arpita Singh. The works on showcase range from the early 20th-century revivalist aspirations of the Bengal School. 'The exhibition explores how artists redefined tradition, form, and identity in response to evolving political, social, and aesthetic contexts,' states the curatorial note. At Art Exposure, Kolkata, till 15 June, 11am-8pm (closed on Sunday). A glimpse of the Da Vinci Genius-AI Immersive Experience. Chat with Mona Lisa and walk through Starry Night in A Journey Through the Eyes of Masters, an AI-driven immersive show that brings together several works of Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh under one roof. At DLF Promenade, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, 24 May-31 August, 11am onwards. A still from Aadyam Theatre's dance musical, 'Mumbai Star'. Presented by Aadyam Theatre, dance musical Mumbai Star follows the life of a young dancer who leaves his coastal hometown to win a talent competition in Mumbai. At St. Andrew's Auditorium, Bandra West, Mumbai, 24-25 May, 7.30pm/also 4pm on Sunday. For details, visit Artworks by Yogeeta Yadav for 'Elemental'. Elemental is a solo exhibition of abstract paintings by Yogeeta Yadav. The artist leaves impressions and marks across the layered surface of her works, drawing on primeval expressions of art. At ARTISANS', Kala Ghoda, Mumbai, till 31 May, 11am-7pm. For details, call 9324732348. Muradabadi Biryani is on the menu of Rampuri Festival at JW Marriott Bengaluru. Curated by Khansama Nasir Hussain, Rampuri Festival, as the name suggests, celebrates Rampur's royal cuisine. On offer will be dishes such as the Taark Korma, Chappli Kebab, Ratalu ke Nehari, Shaljam Zafrani, Muradabadi Biryani and Mirchi Ka Halwa. At Spice Terrace, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, till 1 June, 6.30-11pm. For details, call 8884675454.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Mumbai Star, a dance musical about highs and lows of chasing stardom, opens on Saturday
MUMBAI Star, a new dance musical, follows the journey of Dev, a young dancer from a coastal Maharashtra village, who musters the courage to follow his dreams of becoming a star and moves to Mumbai. He joins hundreds of hopefuls as he competes to win a major talent show and claim the 'Mumbai Star' title. As Dhruv mavigates fame, love, and identity, the play also explores his life-changing encounter with a mentor. Helmed by director Nadir Khan with choreography by Avantika Bahl and original music by composer Dhruv Ghanekar, this theatrical production brings together powerful movement and music to create a genre-defying theatrical experience. 'Mumbai Star alludes to what the city means to so many people, who come here to make their dreams come true and seek a better life. It is about their aspirations and determination,' says Khan. The dance musical, originally produced as a project by the Min-On Concert Association, Tokyo, has been revived as part of Aadyam Theatre. It will open at Mumbai's St. Andrew's Auditorium on Saturday evening. The play, conceived by Devika Shahani, has been reimagined by writers Akarsh Khurana and Arghya Lahiri for its upcoming production. Shahani says: 'Mumbai Star is a universal story about one of the most important relationships of our lives — the guru and shishya. I wanted to present the dynamic between mentor and disciple through music and dance.' The show's narration is led by actors Rajit Kapur and Srishti Shrivastava. Talking about the process of choreographing for the show, Bahl says, 'There's been a diverse number of forms that we've had — ranging from Kathak to Jazz to Bollywood to Hip-Hop. What's been both challenging and exciting for me is to be able to sort of find a common language. It's also been really wonderful to have our guest choreographers who've been able to add their own sort of voice to some of the compositions.' While Surabhi Andrade as associate choreographer 'came in with her own very distinct sort of personal voice and touch', Vivaran Dhasmana choreographs the hip-hop sets, Krutika Mehta brings the Bollywood flavour, and Vidushi Uma Dogra, a Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, curates the Kathak pieces. The dance musical is the blend of 'storytelling, dance and music' that 'hold equal parts' in taking the story forward, says Bahl. 'Mumbai Star celebrates dance — both modern and traditional — and dancers themselves, as individuals and a collective,' believes Khan. The shows of Mumbai Star will be held on May 24 at 7:30PM; May 25 at 4PM & 7:30PM at St Andrew's Auditorium.
India Today
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Naseeruddin Shah recalls working '3 shifts a day' just for money: No worse torture
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah recently opened up about the harsh realities of working in the film industry and the personal toll it can take on an artiste. He recalled once working three back-to-back shifts in a single on the Aadyam Theatre podcast, the acclaimed actor recalled a time when financial necessity pushed him to take on multiple film projects simultaneously, a decision he later came to regret."I've done three shifts a day, and there's no worse torture in the world. There was a time when I was acting in several films just for the money. And I realised no amount of money is worth this agony, jumping from one set to another," Shah reflecting on those hectic days, Shah shed light on the often-unspoken realities of the film industry. "Half the time, you're just socialising on set. You arrive for a 9 am shift, then spend another hour or so having breakfast, enjoying the scenery, and gossiping. I know someone who'd love that," referring to his wife and fellow actor Ratna Pathak Shah who also participated in the conversation, offered her own perspective on work and artistic commitment. "I've done very little work that is of high quality. Most of my work has been on television, so that's not the kind of quality we refer to when we talk about great art. But I've realised that if I don't give it my all, if I don't apply the same skills I use while doing theatre, then it neither sounds nor looks right," she She added, "I do so little work that I can't get myself to cheat even in that. I understand if I'm doing four shifts a day, then I'd just split in one and move ahead. But if a play or a role comes to me after two years, then at least I should work hard on that."The couple's respect for each other's work was clear when Ratna, speaking at the FICCI FLO Hyderabad Summit, said she admires Naseeruddin's strong focus on his work, but also feels a bit jealous of it. 'I love the fact that he is totally focused on his work, and he is the most generous person to work with as an actor, as a director, in every way. As a director, he helps every single person arrive at the best of what they are capable of."Naseeruddin Shah was most recently seen in 'Fateh', Sonu Sood's directorial debut, alongside Jacqueline Fernandez, Vijay Raaz, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya. Released in February, the cyber-thriller followed the journey of an ex-agent fighting a cyber mafia but received mixed reviews and modest box office returns, earning Rs19.06 crore Watch
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Naseeruddin Shah recalls doing movies just for money, working three shifts a day: ‘There's no worse torture in world'
Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah, known for his films like Bazaar, Aakrosh, Sparsh, A Wednesday! and more, recalled in an interview with Aadyam Theatre how he once took on certain films purely for financial reasons. He described working three shifts a day as "torture". (Also Read: Naseeruddin Shah 'could hardly hold back tears' as he attended Manthan screening at Cannes almost 50 years after release) The actor revealed that his technique does not differ when acting in front of the camera versus on stage. When asked if he had ever done four shifts a day, Naseeruddin said, "I've done three shifts a day, and there's no worse torture in the world. There was a time when I was acting in several films just for the money. And I realised no amount of money is worth this agony — jumping from one set to another. Half the time, you're just socialising on set. You arrive for a 9 am shift, then spend another hour or so having breakfast, enjoying the scenery, and gossiping. I know someone who'd love that," he added, pointing towards Ratna. Ratna spoke about putting equal effort into all her work, even if the quality varied, and said, "I've done very little work that is of high quality. Most of my work has been on television, so that's not the kind of quality we refer to when we talk about great art. But I've realised that if I don't give it my all — if I don't apply the same skills I use while doing theatre — then it neither sounds nor looks right." Naseeruddin Shah was last seen in the film Fateh. Sonu Sood's directorial debut also starred Jacqueline Fernandez, Vijay Raaz, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya in key roles. Released in February, the film follows the story of Fateh, an ex-agent who comes out of his peaceful life to dismantle a cyber mafia syndicate after a local girl becomes a victim and goes missing. Fateh received mixed reviews from both audiences and critics, and failed to make a significant impact at the box office, earning only ₹19.06 crore worldwide.
