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Business News/ News / Business Of Life/  Bollywood on stage
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Bollywood on stage

The new show at the Kingdom of Dreams is a fast-paced drama that builds in interactive elements

Abhimanyu—The Fastest Feet.Premium
Abhimanyu—The Fastest Feet.

NEW DELHI :

All said and done, Abhimanyu: The Fastest Feet, the new production at the Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon, near Delhi, is a well-produced drama.

The story revolves around Abhimanyu (Sandeep Mahavir), a Kathak dancer and teacher at a gurukul in Bidasar, Rajasthan. A Broadway dancer sees him perform during a trip to India, and asks him to join her dance company. He goes abroad in the hope that he will earn enough money to run his dance school.

First, here’s what’s good about the show, which opened on Thursday.

There are 12 choreographies in the 2-hour-plus musical, of which at least three are quite remarkable.

One of these is a dance show in the US, though it is rather unfortunately named Hello Rama (the title is a portmanteau of Halloween and the Ramayan). Ravan and Ram face-off in this stylized show-within-a-show.

The demon army of Ravan sports masks that are reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. In one segment, the supporting dancers jump off the stage to perform in the aisles. The stage space has been used cleverly in this sequence. Platforms that rise and descend below the normal stage level are deployed particularly well in one segment where Ram climbs on to a “chariot". The vehicle is made by the supporting dancers’ intertwined arms, while the stage is below eye level. When the dancers come back into view, they make a stunning picture. The segment also uses fire; people sitting in the front rows will feel the heat from the flames. The choreography is by Bollywood choreographer Arvind Thakur and Mahavir.

Dancer Akbar Ali, who appeared as a child artiste on reality TV shows, is entertaining to watch. He plays the part of Bajrangi, one of the more talented dancers in the gurukul.

The story, though somewhat predictable, is fast-paced. Along with the percussion-heavy background score, the pace holds the audiences’ interest for the entire duration. The action travels from Bidasar in Act I to New York City, US, and back in the second half. There are dance rehearsals, a Ganesh Utsav celebration, an item song in Mumbai, a panchayat meeting and a dance competition. There is also a love triangle.

Here’s what’s not so great: The drama can get a bit tedious in parts. Like when the Broadway dancer and choreographer Rosanna (Emma Yearsley) comes to Rajasthan. Her enthusiasm is over-the-top, and the stereotyping of the American visitor who often says “yeah" and “come on" is a bit jarring.

The comic interludes are also predictable and underwhelming. The village idiot, Manjha (Purshottam; he uses only one name), is in love with Bawri (Mughda Mane), Abhimanyu’s love interest, and becomes the butt of a cruel joke. Though this leads to a dream-sequence—one of those three noteworthy choreographies—it is a much-flogged horse.

The hip hop sequences seldom have the sharpness one wants to see in a production of this quality. Even the dancing by Mahavir, who has also written, directed and co-produced the show, is less than spectacular. While it is far from amateurish, the show doesn’t match up to the expectations built by the subtitle: The Fastest Feet.

Abhimanyu: The Fastest Feet will show from 20-22/27-29 November and 1/3/6 December, 7pm/2.30pm (3 December), at Kingdom Of Dreams, Sector 29 (0124-4528000). Tickets, 1,099, 1,199, 1,249, 1,499, 1,999, 2,499 and 2,999, available on in.bookmyshow.com

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Published: 19 Nov 2015, 09:34 PM IST
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