India's First Musical on the Mahatma Gandhi to be staged in Mumbai

India's first musical

The first ever musical on the life of Gandhi titled Gandhi - The Musical, presented by NCPA and Silly Point Productions is all set to be staged at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) from April 1st 2017 onwards in Mumbai.

Gandhi - The musical traces and explores the periodic & remarkable journey of Gandhi's life over time, his experiences, struggles & actions for the attainment of freedom coupled with song & dance and music comprising various genres. The musical wishes to drive the idea of Gandhi as an example, inspiration and a belief, as a principle & an infinite entity rather than just a great being of his time by having him speak of "India of his dreams" of what he always wished his country would be through the musical.

Deepa Gahlot, NCPA remarked, "The Jamshed Bhabha Theatre is unarguably the best equipped theatre in India, that has a seating capacity of 1100, which works well for big productions like Gandhi. The large size of the stage, the wide wing space and multiple fly bars enable the performing group to use multiple sets and change them quickly. It was designed to be an opera venue so it has all the grandeur one expects from an auditorium of such beauty and elegance--inside and out."

The musical also has Bollywood actor Boman Irani who has lent his voice as ‘The Raj' -portraying the system that Gandhi was constantly battling against. The amalgamation of the song-and-dance sequences of a musical with the story of Gandhi is an idea that came to writer-director Danesh A.R. Khambata, the brainchild behind this project, a year ago. Talking about it, he says, "While thinking about what uniqueness one could bring in order to tell Gandhi's story differently, I couldn't think of a better idea than conceptualising a Broadway-styled musical on the Father of the Nation."

Danesh Khambata, Partner, Silly Point Productions further adds, "Gandhi - The Musical entails this remarkable man's journey, his experiences and experiments with truth. A musical extravaganza comprising over 15 original songs, 10 dances across a variety of genres and spectacular sets that depict the era of the man that shaped an entire nation. A musical journey of the life of the man, beyond the Mahatma. His personal trifles that eventually lead to his triumphs."

The last season of the musical had opened to spectacular reviews from the viewers and this year too, the musical is set to break all benchmarks and stereotypes. Says writer-director Danesh A.R. Khambata, "With the success run of the first season of our show and the pre-bookings for the second season going strong, I'm confident we are once again going to repeat the success & hope to double it."

The musical shows Gandhi not just in moments where he led the crusade for Independence, but also in his quieter & tender moments with his wife and son. It shows Gandhi in moments where he was unshaken by the Empire's attempts to cowe him, and in moments where he was plagued by self-doubt.

The audiences may have witnessed many adaptations of Gandhi in the past but the writer-director believes that with the introduction of a Broadway styled musical, it all comes to life in a compelling way.

Gandhi - the Musical written & directed by Danesh A.R. Khambata and presented by NCPA and Silly Point Productions will be staged at NCPA from April 1st to April 9th 2017.