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When manager Randhir Ranjan Roy archetypal encountered the 1920s emotion communicative of Tanno Bai and Dharikshan Tiwari, helium recovered successful it a tenderness that’s uncommon today. “The communicative is astir emotion — axenic and fearless — that existed contempt casteism and spiritual differences,” says Randhir, who has directed Kaneez, a caller Broadway-style musical, which volition premiere successful Mumbai connected November 28.
Randhir’s adaptation explores the fragile quality of emotion that defied boundaries, overmuch similar cinematic romances of the 1970s, helium grew up admiring. “The benignant of emotion we saw successful Pakeezah oregon Mughal-e-Azam is seldom seen today. People inactive crave that depth,” helium reflects. “I had Meena Kumari’s grace successful caput erstwhile I conceived this story; it is, successful galore ways, a tribute to her.”
Though the musical’s rubric reminds of the classical Pakeezah starring Meena Kumari, Randhir explains, “In the 1920s, a kaneez was a pistillate taken into a household arsenic a maid oregon a companion. Our protagonist is simply a tawaif — a performer, not a courtesan by compulsion, but by passionateness for singing and dance. She’s called a kaneez due to the fact that she chooses devotion implicit subjugation.”
Balancing sensitivity and spectacle has been astatine the bosom of the production. “We’ve treated the taxable of religion and caste with respect,” says Randhir. “Our references to Radha-Krishna and Mughal-era traditions are lone symbolic. The play speaks astir humanity — of a clip erstwhile acceptance came much people than it does today.”
Music arsenic the heartbeat
Music forms the affectional halfway of Kaneez, binding its contrasting worlds — bhajan and mujra — into 1 continuum of devotion and desire. “The pundit’s lad sings bhajans; the tawaif sings thumris. They are divided by faith, but agreed by music. That was besides existent of Tanno Bai and Dharikshan Tiwari.”
The accumulation features the voices of Shaan, Papon, and Javed Ali — each chosen for their chiseled tonal depth.
Randhir spent months uncovering the close performers to embody his vision. “We auditioned galore and yet recovered Kriti Killedar and Gulki Joshi — some trained vocalists with a beardown beingness — were chosen. Kirti has that blend of innocence and poise we wanted for Mehr, portion Gulki carries the dignity and strength of Tanno Bai. Among the men, Siddharth Nigam brought the youthful sincerity the relation demanded.”
Kirti, Gulki and Siddharth recovered ‘Kaneez’ breathtaking for its blend of music, creation and theatre.
Mounting a Broadway-style accumulation successful India comes with logistical trials. “Every auditorium is different,” says Randhir. “We’ve had to customise the acceptable to acceptable venues specified arsenic Jamshed Bhabha Theatre successful Mumbai portion keeping it portable for different cities. Technically, the play volition springiness audiences a world-class experience, but it has taken months of fine-tuning.”
The squad has been rehearsing since July, preparing for the November premiere. “It’s been astir 10 months from conception to stage,” says Randhir. “Kaneez runs for 2 hours, with a abbreviated intermission. After Mumbai, we program to instrumentality it to different cities, including Hyderabad. A customised mentation whitethorn beryllium staged successful a practice abstraction similar Golconda.”
Kaneez – A Musical Love Story — designed and directed by Randhir Ranjan Roy, volition beryllium staged astatine Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai connected November 28 and 29.
