£12m Lord of the Rings Sets Closing Date, 19 Jul

The epic stage adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has posted closing notices at the West End’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane for 19 July 2008, just a year after it opened as the most expensive production in West End history at an estimated cost of £12.5 million.

The hybrid Tolkien musical – which opened at Drury Lane, to a mixed critical reception (See Review Round-up, 20 Jun 2007), on 19 June 2007 after six years of development and re-writing, a 2006 try-out in Toronto and six weeks of previews – had been booking through to 28 September 2008. It will now close after 492 performances, having played to an audience of over 446,000.

Rob Howell won the Best Designer prize in this year’s Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Awards for The Lord of the Rings’s spectacular, state-of-the-art set. The 45-foot stage alone, equipped with three revolves and 17 lifts, cost £1 million. In addition to the expense, the design for The Lord of the Rings is the most high-tech and physically complex in the West End. Special planning permission was required to refit the Drury Lane to accommodate the new high-tech set – according to the Daily Mail, the process of removing it and reinstating the Victorian equipment that it replaced will now take a minimum of ten weeks. In conjuring Tolkien’s fantastical Middle Earth, the show also features stilt-walking, giant leaping and aerial choreography, as well as dance, illusions, magic and other special effects. Ensemble members were required to undergo weeks of boot-camp style training before rehearsals began (See News, 8 Feb 2007).

Plans are now underway for German production, to open in November 2009, and a scaled-down touring version that will open next year in New Zealand before travelling to Australia and the Far East. Producer Kevin Wallace said in a statement: “The show’s creative team has proven just how enchanting, exhilarating and powerfully entertaining The Lord of the Rings can be live on stage. We will continue to bring this incredible theatrical event to audiences in London until 19 July, and we look forward to presenting the show to new audiences abroad from 2009.”

After its initial Canadian run in 2006, the piece was substantially revised and the running time shortened by 40 minutes to just over three hours. The Lord of the Rings has a book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus, and music by Bombay Dreams’ AR Rahman and Finnish folk group Värttinä with Christopher Nightingale (See News, 21 Oct 2003). It’s directed by Warchus and choreographed by Peter Darling.

The 50-strong company is led by: James Loye (as Hobbit hero Frodo), Peter Howe (Sam), Michael Therriault (Gollum), Malcolm Storry (Gandalf), Jerome Pradon (Aragorn), Rosalie Craig (Arwen), Steven Miller (Boromir), Michael Rouse (Legolas), Sevan Stephan (Gimli), Richard Henders (Merry), Owen Sharpe (Pippin), Brian Protheroe (Saruman) and Abbie Osmon (Galadriel).

According to today’s Daily Mail, The Lord of the Rings must make way for the upcoming revival of Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, a product of the latest television casting competition, I’d Do Anything, which begins broadcasting on Saturday nights on BBC One this weekend (See News, 12 Mar 2008).

Courtesy: whatsonstage.com

A.R Rahman: 'War is about power'

ONE of the world’s biggest composing, production and musical names A.R. Rahman spoke exclusively to BBC Asian Network’s Gagan Grewal this week sharing his views on war and his career.

Rahman, the man behind the musical score of countless Bollywood films as well as West End productions including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams and Lord of the Rings spoke about his latest projects and war – something he’s rarely spoken about in public.

A.R. Rahman scored his 1st Bollywood song ‘Roja’ in 1992 which went on to be listed as one of the top 100 songs of all time by TIME magazine, yet Rahman says it’s hard to define a favourite song.

In 2003 BBC World Service ran a global poll, asking its listeners for their 10 favourite tracks of the last millennium. A.R. Rahman had two tracks in the top ten, Vande Mataram – a rendition of the Indian National Song made it to number 2.

Said Rahman: "I felt I should do something as a personal expression and I teamed up with my school mate Bharat Bala, a talented film maker, and he thought of this idea. I wanted to complete this album with the thought of belonging to the motherland. Though it was a controversial theme, I think the way it was put together made it acceptable to every community".

On the topic of war, on one of Rahman’s CDs, he says the world spends 730 billion dollars on war.

"The ultimate fight in humanity was actually for food. But now it’s not about food anymore or healing anybody…....It's about power, who's more powerful and who can control the world. Everybody's become a control freak, that’s the reason why we are spending so much of money on war, and so that’s the reason, why it was put on the sleeve of 'Pray for me brother' album. It's a simple thing, we don’t think about that, but when we see the reality we feel disgusted about it".

Rahman says he enjoys working in England as it gives him a platform try something non-Bollywood.

"It's completely different from what I do for movies because here [UK] there is different kind of audience, the whole platform is reputed and credible. My first entry here has been great with 'Lord of the Rings’ being the second musical, but completely western, completely non-Bollywood, non Indian, a good diversion for me to go deeper into this kind of music. "

Rahman has won recognition from a broad base including MTV, the Laurence Olivier awards as well as Bollywood. He says his father, who died when Rahman was nine, affected him and his career.

The father of two said: "Everything changed when I started discovering myself, and the influence of Sufism in my life and my family. And the first film when it came, that changed the whole direction of my life in a way because that defined my music, principles and existence in a way actually…. My inspiration I got from him [his father] and his hard work, the good name he earned in the industry, which I wanted to retain in a way."

Talking about what gives him strength Rahman replied: "I'm a spiritual person, the word religion has been so much in controversy. I think we need to go beyond and look at humanity with love rather than segmenting so much. I try to be as true as possible, but the main thing for me is how much is it turning me into a better human being and how much it makes me a good influence in the community. So that's very important and I keep that in my mind."

For a man that has achieved a lot at a very young age we asked A.R. Rahman what is next on the horizon.

"Right now I’m doing Yuvraj, a Subhash Ghai's film, D6 by Rakesh Mehra, and Ghajini with Amir Khan, and the next music release will be a film Jaane Tu Jaane Na, Amir Khan production".


Courtesy: theasiannews.co.uk

A R Rahman: I try to be as true as possible

One of the world's biggest composing, production and musical names A R Rahman spoke exclusively to BBC Asian Network's Gagan Grewal this week sharing his views on war and his career.

Rahman, the man behind the musical score of countless Bollywood films as well as West End productions like Andrew Lloyd Webber's BOMBAY DREAMS and LORD OF THE RINGS spoke to Asian Network about his latest projects and war - something he's rarely spoken about in public.


A R Rahman scored his 1st Bollywood song ROJA in 1992 which went on to be listed as one of the top 100 songs of all time by TIME magazine, yet Rahman says it's hard to define a favourite song. In 2003 BBC World Service ran a global poll, asking its listeners for their 10 favourite tracks of the last millennium. A R Rahman had two tracks in the top ten, Vande Mataram - a rendition of the Indian National Song made it to number 2. We asked how that came about.

"I felt I should do something as a personal expression and I teamed up with my school mate Bharat Bala, a talented film maker, and he thought of this idea. I wanted to complete this album with the thought of belonging to the motherland. Though it was a controversial theme, I think the way it was put together I think it was acceptable to every community".

On one of A R's CDs he says the world spends 730 billion dollars on War. We asked A R Rahamn what his views on war are.

"The ultimate fight in humanity was actually for food. But now it's not about food anymore or healing anybody� It's about power, who's more powerful and who can control the world. Everybody's become a control freak, that's the reason why we are spending so much of money on war, and so that's the reason, why it was put on the sleeve of 'Pray for me brother' album. It's a simple thing, we don't think about that, but when we see the reality we feel disgusted about it".
We asked A R Rahman how he has found working over in the UK for the LORD OF THE RINGS musical.

"[It's] Completely different from what I do for movies because here [UK] is different kind of audience, the whole platform is reputed and credible. My first entry there has been great, �Bombay dreams'. �Lord of the Rings' being the 2nd musical, but completely western, completely non Bollywood, non Indian, good diversion for me, to go deeper into this kind of music.

"It [the Bombay Dreams collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber] started, the conversation by Shekhar Kapoor to Andrew introducing my music to him, and he calling me straight and it started all that time, and now Bombay Dreams has almost become a kind of landmark musical where people recognize Indian film from Bombay Dreams. It's a great bridge for that. And a bridge for me to go into western musicals like LORD OF THE RINGS and probably much more in the future".

A R Rahman has won recognition from a broad base including MTV, the Laurence Olivier awards as well as Bollywood. We asked how his father dying when he was nine years old affected him and his career.

"Everything changed when I started discovering myself, and the influence of Sufism in my life and my family. And the first film when it came, that changed the whole direction of my life in a way because that defined my music, principles and existence in a way actually... my inspiration I got from him [his father] was his hard work, the good name he earned in the industry, which I wanted to retain in a way."

Talking about what gives him strength Rahman replied, "I'm a spiritual person, the word religion has been so much in controversy, I think we need to go beyond and look at humanity with love rather than segmenting so much. I try to be as true as possible, but the main thing for me is how much it is turning me into a better human being and how much it makes me a good influence in the community. So that's very important and I keep that in my mind.�"My family is very personal. They are a great support for my all activities and moral support and everything...and I've got 2 daughters and a son, and we all live together..."

For a man that has achieved a lot at a very young age we asked A R Rahman what is next on the horizon.

"Right now I'm doing YUVRAJ, a Subhash Ghai's film, D6 by Rakesh Mehra, and GHAJINI with Aamir Khan, and the next music release will be a film JAANE TU JAANE NA, an Aamir Khan production".
Courtesy: Glamsham.com

Jodhaa Akbar could make even more money than OSO

Getting a royal welcome on both sides of the Atlantic, Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar, grabbed an estimated $1.3 million in North America and $750,000 in the United Kingdom over the weekend.

Factoring in the Gulf countries, the Caribbean and Australia, the three day haul could reach an awesome $3 million.

The film may not have crossover appeal to the mainstream audiences but anyone who reads the opening of The New York Times review may be tempted to see it. 'They may not make'em like they used to in Hollywood,' critic Rachel Saltz wrote, 'but sometimes in India they still do. Jodhaa Akbar... is filmmaking on the grand scale of Cecil B De Mille (The Ten Commandments), with romance, stirring battles, and enough elephants and gold to sink the Titanic .'
The US box-office was especially impressive given the awful weather conditions in the Midwest.

"If the goodwill and enthusiasm for the film continues, and we at UTV feel it will, Jodhaa Akbar could make even more money than Om Shanti Om," said Lokesh Dhar for distributor UTV. "We are not looking at the success of this film in terms of another hit for UTV (which has distributed hits like Don). It could become the all-time highest grossing Bollywood film in North America."

Farah Khan's OSO starring Shah Rukh Khan , who also produced it, grossed about $3.8 million in North America and holds the record.

"Despite the fact that Jodhaa Akbar is three-and-a-half hours long," Dhar continued, "and theatres are having less number of shows, we are doing extraordinary business."

The film, which got decent reviews from many mainstream publications including The New York Times and a few pans like the one in the San Francisco Chronicle, had a record 135 prints released in North America. In the United Kingdom it has some 70 prints.

The full week's gross outside India could exceed $4.5 million. Even if the film's takings were to fall by 50 percent in subsequent weeks as it traditionally happens for Bollywood movies, it could still end up with some $8 million.

Unlike in India where the entertainment tax takes away nearly 50 percent of the box office collection, Bollywood producers get about 65 percent of the overseas take.

Bollywood insiders believe that even if Jodhaa Akbar does not do spectacular business in India, the overseas moolah will help it recuperate its reported $10 million budget.

Another reason why the film may not suffer a steep decline in the second week is that there are no big movies challenging Jodhaa Akbar for several weeks, till the action thriller Race, which is also distributed by UTV.

"We strongly feel that Jodhaa Akbar is not going to be a one week phenomenon," Dhar said. "Many people are telling us that they are seeing the film two or three times, taking friends and family members who may not usually see films in theatres. The word has gone out that this is one film you ought to see on the big screen first."

Indian Americans are also spreading the word that Jodhaa Akbar is not like the typical Bollywood production, and some of them are quoting reviews like the one in The New York Times.

'These royals are played by Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan,' Saltz continued, 'two rather astonishing specimens of human beauty. Neither is a great actor, but both know what's required of a star and seem to the palace born.'

She did not forget the music and Kiiran Deohans for his cinematography. 'The film bounces along to a memorable score by A R Rahman. (I am still humming the songs),' Saltz wrote.

Giving the film four stars out of five, the BBC's Tajpal Rathore wrote: 'One is perhaps starting to expect too much from director Ashutosh Gowarikar after such masterpieces like Lagaan and Swades . But he seems to raise the bar with his historic magnum opus, Jodhaa Akbar.'

'Extensive though it is, Jodhaa Akbar cannot be discussed using small talk,' Rathore wrote. 'Everything in the film is big and grand: the palaces, the armies and most importantly, the love story. It hits at the heartstrings and somehow has enough energy to sustain itself through the bloated script that perhaps should've been chopped. Ravishing Rai is convincing enough but it's Roshan's majestic performance as the love-struck warrior that packs the punch; it's his film from start to finish.'

Gowariker knows how to tell a story, declared Sandip Ray in the San Francisco Chronicle, referring specially to Lagaan. But in the new film, the review said, he seems overwhelmed by the sheer weight of history.

'The never-ending opening sequence, a CliffsNotes version of Indian history in superstar Amitabh Bachchan's sonorous baritone, doesn't help either,' Roy added.' Or perhaps the film just topples over under the sheer weight of all that gold jewelry.'

The problem with Jodha and Akbar is that they are both too noble, the reviewer continued.

'Epic stories need epic tragedies or at least forbidden love,' he added.' In the 1960 classic Mughal-E-Azam, the rebellious prince (actually the son of Akbar) falls in love with the beautiful courtesan, and her defiant songs became the anthem of star-crossed lovers. (You still hear South Asians singing it at gay pride parades.)'

But there are moments when the film manages to break free of its limitations, the review said. 'Jodha and Akbar duel in an empty palace courtyard, their swordplay turning into foreplay,' it explained. 'A crowd of Sufis whirl, their white outfits glowing against the brick red earth, and the emperor leaves his seat to dance ecstatically with them. These are the real human moments in the film. One just wishes there were a few more.'

Many viewers in New York and New Jersey cinemas said they were not deterred by the film's length. "We have watched on DVD some films which are just about two hours long and we have found them boring," said a 50-year-old man who had driven 40 miles from Connecticut to see the film in a New York theatre with his wife and grown children "But if a film is well made, who worries about the time? And this kind of a film one must first see in a theatre, never mind what good home entertainment system we have at home."


Courtesy: Rediff.com