Mahim Junction Brings Back Bollywood of the 70s
Shafaat Ahmed
20 February 2010
20 February 2010
DUBAI - Drama, love, passion, sleaze and foot-tapping music.Suhaila Kapur’s musical ‘Mahim Junction’ has every element that a successful Bollywood masala flick of the 70s had.
A true tribute to the Bollywood of the 70s, the play premiered with a red carpet gala at DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates on Thursday.
Award-winning Hollywood-Bollywood director of films like ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Mr. India’, Shekhar Kapur presented the play as a mark of support to his younger sister Suhaila.
“I wish you well, it’s good for you to beat your elder brother at everything he does,” quipped the elder Kapur, in his opening remarks of the show.
Set in a 70s’ slum adjacent to a Mumbai railway station, the play tries to tackle today’s burning issues in Bollywood’s own comical style with songs, dance and melodrama.
A limp tea-seller willing to “sacrifice everything for his sister’s love”, a loveable drunk whose steps might be unsteady but not his conscience, a trans-dressing sex-worker who is a darling of many hearts, a greedy mother ready to sell off her daughter, a conniving police officer, a sleazy film producer who traps young girls promising
them movie roles and most importantly two star-struck lovebirds — the characters of the play — not only seemed real but aptly portrayed Mumbai life at its filthy best.
Writer-director Suhaila Kapur, who has hit plays like ‘Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan’ and ‘A Club of Her Own’ to her credit, brings out the essence and nuisance of Mumbai with every act, and ably puts her message of peace and communal harmony across.
‘Mahim Junction’ was first performed to critical acclaim as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2002, where it ran to packed houses in one of the most prestigious venues in the city, the Traverse Theatre. It also recently premiered to a full house at the Ashok Theatre in New Delhi.
The play, which has been well received by the theatre-lovers in Dubai, is part of DUCTAC’s Season 09/10 – the four-month arts extravaganza that features a host of high-calibre artists and performers from around the globe.
The Season is the UAE’s very first multi-disciplinary festival, with arts, music and dance, drama and film events giving the community a rich cultural programme throughout the winter. For tickets or more information one can log on to www.ductac.org or call 04-3414777.