Music composer AR Rahman, making a self-confessed "U-turn" after his success with the Lord of the Rings musical on London's West End, is now planning to bring a mega Broadway-style musical to India.
"Yes, it will be very soon," Rahman said at the Jet Airways-sponsored gala launch of the Lord of the Rings compact disc in London on Monday.
Rahman said his plan is to create an original musical play - of the kind seen in London and New York - to be put up on an Indian stage, most probably in Haryana, near Delhi.
The staging will hinge on plans by Indian events management and entertainment company Wizcraft to develop an entire town near Delhi, patterned after Las Vegas, Rahman told IANS in an interview.
"There will be a big theatre, that's all good news. It's good to see people opening up," he said.
Although Rahman is keeping his plans tightly wrapped, it is aimed at linking Indian tourism with a modern musical stage, just as London's West End attracts millions of international tourists.
"A lot of things are too early to say, let's hope for the best."
Whether the original musical will be on the scale of London's musicals remains to be seen - Rahman himself prefers something on the scale of "Lion King", based on a popular Disney film.
Lord of the Rings, the most expensive West End production, is an eye-popping spectacular that cost £12 million (about Rs.950 million) to put up. On any given night there are 226 people - from computer programmers to actors - involved in the show, which brings British author J.R.R Tolkien's fantasy epic to life.
But Rahman, who has breathed life into the cult classic with his music, said he has made a "u-turn" after his stint with West End and Hollywood - he scored the music for Elizabeth: the Gold Age - and is now looking at India.
"I've been given great respect in India. It's time for me to give back," he said in the interview.
His biggest projects at the moment are his music production company KM Music and a music school that he launched in Chennai on his birthday, January 6.
Looking at India again, he said, has had "a liberating effect" on him.
With American and British musician-friends ready to fly to India to help with his project, Rahman said his school is designed to teach "the minutiae" of music to young Indians, adding: "That's what every kid wants to do - learn music the right away.
"Some of this stuff is beyond money - it's about changing people's perspective on things. This can only be done if you have a musical vision. It might not give instant gratification, but in the long run it's going to help shape up a lot of things."
The launch of the CD on Monday night was a gala affair led by Raja Segran, Jet Airways regional vice-president for Britain, Europe and Americas.
Drawing a parallel between the "Jet experience" and the show, Segran said both were known for their "quality, innovation and the fact they take people on a magical experience".
Courtesy: Hindustantimes.com
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Bombay Dreams at Broadway is breakthrough for South Asians'
As he sat on a street-side table at an eatery here one evening, few passers-by spared Manu Narayan more than a cursory glance - despite his extraordinarily sparkling eyes and his cap slung low to hide his wild, curly locks of black hair.
But the days are not far when Narayan, 25, will not fail to be noticed wherever he happens to be, especially not in the environs of Times Square.
For he is the lead in Andrew Lloyd Weber's spectacular production of A.R. Rahman's "Bombay Dreams", London's smash hit musical that is scheduled to open on Broadway April 29.
"I think that in many ways this show is a breakthrough for South Asians as well as for the US," Narayan told IANS in an interview.
"For Americans this musical is a high profile way of getting the stories, images and music of Indian culture into the greater mainstream American consciousness.
"In so doing, many doors of possibilities open up for South Asian immigrants and South Asian Americans in both the professional and non- professional worlds.
"I believe the more we can expose the world to our talent, ability and cultures, the more the world can view us not as stereotypes but as individuals with our own unique stories."
Narayan also spoke to IANS on how humbled and elated he was on landing the prize role of Akaash.
"I am aware that it is the role of the decade; surely there is nothing higher going in the theatre world for a young South Asian male actor to dream of," he said, the exultation in his voice tamed by a touch of awe.
"Bombay Dreams" had its world premiere at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre June 19, 2002. The musical quickly became the biggest hit currently playing in London's West End.
Based on an idea by filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, "Bombay Dreams" tells the story of a handsome young slum-dweller, Akaash, and his dreams of becoming a Bollywood movie star. It weaves together glamour, romance and epic spectacle.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Narayan's theatre credits include the national tour of "Miss Saigon" (Thuy), Tom Stoppard's "Indian Ink" (Nirad Das) at the Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia, and David Henry Hwang's "Largo" (starring Cyndi Lauper and Fisher Stevens) at New York Stage and Film, as well as TV appearances on "Law and Order SVU" and "As the World Turns".
The part didn't just drop from the sky though - Narayan had been working all his life towards it. He has been acting, singing and dancing since he can remember.
"My parents are very supportive. My dad, J.B. Narayan, came to the US in the 1960s to study engineering. He went back to Chennai, where he met my mother, Vatsala, who is from Karnataka. They came back and settled in Pittsburgh.
"I am an only child and my parents enveloped me in love and support. They are very happy with my choice of acting as a career."
Of the rehearsals for 'Bombay Dreams', which began early this month, Narayan says: "Although it is play, and the best work possible for me, it is also taxing. It is the kind of work I love to do, but there are limits to the human body, and both your muscles and your mind are tested by the simultaneous singing, dancing and acting.
"We rehearse from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Three days a week I go to the gym for a one-hour workout. And it will be eight shows a week, with one rest day, after 'Bombay Dreams' opens at the Broadway Theatre."
Narayan had the privilege of singing for the queen of England, the president of the US, and various other dignitaries at the behest of Andrew Lloyd Webber in London at the US ambassador's residence in London.
"There were about 40 people in all, and we got to shake hands with the queen and the president. It was a big moment. But the biggest is coming... when the curtain rises at the Broadway on April 29."
Courtesy: Hindustantimes.com
But the days are not far when Narayan, 25, will not fail to be noticed wherever he happens to be, especially not in the environs of Times Square.
For he is the lead in Andrew Lloyd Weber's spectacular production of A.R. Rahman's "Bombay Dreams", London's smash hit musical that is scheduled to open on Broadway April 29.
"I think that in many ways this show is a breakthrough for South Asians as well as for the US," Narayan told IANS in an interview.
"For Americans this musical is a high profile way of getting the stories, images and music of Indian culture into the greater mainstream American consciousness.
"In so doing, many doors of possibilities open up for South Asian immigrants and South Asian Americans in both the professional and non- professional worlds.
"I believe the more we can expose the world to our talent, ability and cultures, the more the world can view us not as stereotypes but as individuals with our own unique stories."
Narayan also spoke to IANS on how humbled and elated he was on landing the prize role of Akaash.
"I am aware that it is the role of the decade; surely there is nothing higher going in the theatre world for a young South Asian male actor to dream of," he said, the exultation in his voice tamed by a touch of awe.
"Bombay Dreams" had its world premiere at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre June 19, 2002. The musical quickly became the biggest hit currently playing in London's West End.
Based on an idea by filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, "Bombay Dreams" tells the story of a handsome young slum-dweller, Akaash, and his dreams of becoming a Bollywood movie star. It weaves together glamour, romance and epic spectacle.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Narayan's theatre credits include the national tour of "Miss Saigon" (Thuy), Tom Stoppard's "Indian Ink" (Nirad Das) at the Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia, and David Henry Hwang's "Largo" (starring Cyndi Lauper and Fisher Stevens) at New York Stage and Film, as well as TV appearances on "Law and Order SVU" and "As the World Turns".
The part didn't just drop from the sky though - Narayan had been working all his life towards it. He has been acting, singing and dancing since he can remember.
"My parents are very supportive. My dad, J.B. Narayan, came to the US in the 1960s to study engineering. He went back to Chennai, where he met my mother, Vatsala, who is from Karnataka. They came back and settled in Pittsburgh.
"I am an only child and my parents enveloped me in love and support. They are very happy with my choice of acting as a career."
Of the rehearsals for 'Bombay Dreams', which began early this month, Narayan says: "Although it is play, and the best work possible for me, it is also taxing. It is the kind of work I love to do, but there are limits to the human body, and both your muscles and your mind are tested by the simultaneous singing, dancing and acting.
"We rehearse from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Three days a week I go to the gym for a one-hour workout. And it will be eight shows a week, with one rest day, after 'Bombay Dreams' opens at the Broadway Theatre."
Narayan had the privilege of singing for the queen of England, the president of the US, and various other dignitaries at the behest of Andrew Lloyd Webber in London at the US ambassador's residence in London.
"There were about 40 people in all, and we got to shake hands with the queen and the president. It was a big moment. But the biggest is coming... when the curtain rises at the Broadway on April 29."
Courtesy: Hindustantimes.com
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