‘Mumbai Star’, Aadyam Theatre’s musical ode to the city of dreams, comes to Delhi

Aadyam Theatre’s first-ever musical, ‘Mumbai Star’, is coming to Delhi’s Kamani Auditorium this weekend.

Originally written by Devika Shahani and adapted by Aadyam regulars Akarsh Khurana and Arghya Lahiri, the production is directed by Nadir Khan and choreographed by Avantika Bahl with contributions from guest choreographers, including Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Uma Dogra, Krutika Mehta and Vivaran Dhasman.

At the heart of this story is Dev, a spirited dancer from a quaint coastal town in Maharashtra, who arrives in Mumbai with a little more than his mother’s dream and a burning passion to make it big. He auditions for ‘Mumbai Star’, a dance competition that could change the trajectory of his life. Life in the spotlight nudges him into a web of blinding lights, fame and heartbreak. But at this fateful intersection, he forges a powerful bond with his mentor, who acts as his moral compass.

Originally produced as a project by the Min-On Concert Association, Tokyo, Japan, with The Dragon Rose Project staging the show, ‘Mumbai Star’ is a musical ode to the nurturing power that the city of Mumbai holds. A city of chaos, contrasts, and beauty, a magnet attracting thousands of dreamers.

What binds this sprawling dance musical together is the razor-sharp choreography, fantastic performances, beautiful staging, and the transcendent power of music to narrate a tale of dreams, determination, and destiny.

Dhruv Ghanekar has composed 19 tracks for the album, with Ishitta Arun penning the lyrics. The album is an eclectic mix of genres of songs that play an important role at every juncture of the story. From orchestral overtures and folk percussion to hip hop and soaring ballads, the studio version of the album features celebrated artistes like Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala, Nakash Aziz, Stony Psyko and Ravi Chary.

The cast includes including Avenav Mukherjee, Abhishek Choksi, Arushi Nigam, and Jayesh Sarange, with associate choreographer Surabhi Andrade and others, with Rajit Kapur and Srishti Srivastava lending a powerful theatrical frame as narrators who guide the story as it unfolds.

Director Nadir Khan, who is also the co-programming consultant for the ongoing seventh season of Aadyam Theatre, says, “It’s a simple story, told with soul and energy, all the while rooting itself in a compelling theatrical narrative that weaves different styles of storytelling together — music, dance, movement and theatre. It’s a great evening out for anyone — children included.” On Aadyam’s inclusion of a dance musical to its umbrella, he says, “We are very hopeful that with this small step, the dance industry will have one more avenue that will allow it to continue to innovate, grow and contribute to the rich and diverse landscape of the performing arts.”

Next month, ‘Mumbai Star’ returns to Mumbai for a second run, with three shows.