Ambedkar musical Grand stage ready first day shows fully booked
New Delhi Feb 22 PTI A grand stage decked up with thematic props in a capacious hall at the JLN Stadium here is all set to welcome guests for the spectacular musical on the life of social reformer B R Ambedkar from February 25 onwards with both shows on the opening day fully booked alreadyLead actorRohit Roy of Swabhimaan TV series fame who is essaying the role of Babasaheb in a Broadway-style musical and other supporting cast and crew members on Tuesday did rehearsals on stage for the grand musical which will be hosted from February 25 to March 12The opening show of Babasaheb The Grand Musical hosted by the Delhi government will be attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal his deputy Manish Sisodia and several Delhi cabinet ministers officials saidAAP lawmaker Atishi who visited the venue on Tuesday to take stock of the preparations told reporters that all safety protocols in view of the Covid situation will be followed and therefore only 50 per cent of the seats in the big hall would be occupied in any showThe play will be staged twice every day at 4 PM and 7 PM The auditorium has a capacity of 2000 but only alternate seats will be occupied so about 1000 people will be able to watch the show at any time she saidThe shows continuity will also depend as to when will the model code of conduct kick in she said Civic polls in Delhi are due in April Kejriwal had earlier said tickets will be available for free but people will have to book them in advance due to the limited number of seatsAs on Tuesday both shows on opening day were fully booked a senior official saidLead actor Roy 53 said instead of trying to mimic Ambedkars look through make-up I have tried to slip emotionally into his character how Babasaheb would have spoken those lines how would he would reacted to a particular situation The script is wonderful which I keep doing over and over again to deliver the lines more effectively he saidThe play on the architect of the Indian Constitution will be showcased on a 100-ft arena having a 40-ft revolving stage which has been mounted with a thematic design Stagecraft also include digital props and spectacular play of light and shadowThe stage has been decked with decorative digital screens in the proscenium area and also embedded with props which bear images of Mooknayak newspaper that Ambedkar used to bring out and words associated with his life and titles of books written by himThe screens will display a matrix of words like The Annihilation of Caste Pakistan or the Partition of India The Buddha and his Dhamma and innside screens carry Nayak Riddles in Hinduism etcThe music and songs include contributions from the Indian Ocean band and in the climax song singer Shubha Mudgal has lent her powerful voice which Roy said gave me goosebumpsThe duration of the play is about two hours and will also showcase a mix of theatrics acrobatics and choral performance to background music The script is embedded with social commentary on the plight of the Dalit community and their struggleAbout 30 supporting cast and crew members drawn largely from an acting studio in Delhi are part of the productionDelhi-based Disha Sharma who plays the role of Ambedkars first wife Ramabai said We all know about the struggles of Ambedkar but his wife managed the entire household with children she went to Columbia University for higher studies She was a Dalit and a woman and her sacrifices also need to be known Nagpur-born Gauri Dewal who graduated from the National School of Drama in 2008 is playing the role of Ambedkars second wife Savita Ambedkar who was a doctorI grew up in Nagpur so aware of the legacy of Babasaheb and his memorial I have seen there Also as a child I had once played the role of Ambedkar so its kind of destined I believe to play his wife now after so many years she told PTIEarlier the play was to be staged from January 5 but it was postponed due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capitalDelhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia on December 23 had told reporters that theplay onAmbedkarwill be organised here on a grand scale to tell the story of his struggle and inspire othersIt would be done on a grand scale at a big venue on Western musicals Broadway style Sisodia had saidPTI KND ANB ANB
New Delhi Feb 22 PTI A grand stage decked up with thematic props in a capacious hall at the JLN Stadium here is all set to welcome guests for the spectacular musical on the life of social reformer B R Ambedkar from February 25 onwards with both shows on the opening day fully booked alreadyLead actorRohit Roy of Swabhimaan TV series fame who is essaying the role of Babasaheb in a Broadway-style musical and other supporting cast and crew members on Tuesday did rehearsals on stage for the grand musical which will be hosted from February 25 to March 12The opening show of Babasaheb The Grand Musical hosted by the Delhi government will be attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal his deputy Manish Sisodia and several Delhi cabinet ministers officials saidAAP lawmaker Atishi who visited the venue on Tuesday to take stock of the preparations told reporters that all safety protocols in view of the Covid situation will be followed and therefore only 50 per cent of the seats in the big hall would be occupied in any showThe play will be staged twice every day at 4 PM and 7 PM The auditorium has a capacity of 2000 but only alternate seats will be occupied so about 1000 people will be able to watch the show at any time she saidThe shows continuity will also depend as to when will the model code of conduct kick in she said Civic polls in Delhi are due in April Kejriwal had earlier said tickets will be available for free but people will have to book them in advance due to the limited number of seatsAs on Tuesday both shows on opening day were fully booked a senior official saidLead actor Roy 53 said instead of trying to mimic Ambedkars look through make-up I have tried to slip emotionally into his character how Babasaheb would have spoken those lines how would he would reacted to a particular situation The script is wonderful which I keep doing over and over again to deliver the lines more effectively he saidThe play on the architect of the Indian Constitution will be showcased on a 100-ft arena having a 40-ft revolving stage which has been mounted with a thematic design Stagecraft also include digital props and spectacular play of light and shadowThe stage has been decked with decorative digital screens in the proscenium area and also embedded with props which bear images of Mooknayak newspaper that Ambedkar used to bring out and words associated with his life and titles of books written by himThe screens will display a matrix of words like The Annihilation of Caste Pakistan or the Partition of India The Buddha and his Dhamma and innside screens carry Nayak Riddles in Hinduism etcThe music and songs include contributions from the Indian Ocean band and in the climax song singer Shubha Mudgal has lent her powerful voice which Roy said gave me goosebumpsThe duration of the play is about two hours and will also showcase a mix of theatrics acrobatics and choral performance to background music The script is embedded with social commentary on the plight of the Dalit community and their struggleAbout 30 supporting cast and crew members drawn largely from an acting studio in Delhi are part of the productionDelhi-based Disha Sharma who plays the role of Ambedkars first wife Ramabai said We all know about the struggles of Ambedkar but his wife managed the entire household with children she went to Columbia University for higher studies She was a Dalit and a woman and her sacrifices also need to be known Nagpur-born Gauri Dewal who graduated from the National School of Drama in 2008 is playing the role of Ambedkars second wife Savita Ambedkar who was a doctorI grew up in Nagpur so aware of the legacy of Babasaheb and his memorial I have seen there Also as a child I had once played the role of Ambedkar so its kind of destined I believe to play his wife now after so many years she told PTIEarlier the play was to be staged from January 5 but it was postponed due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capitalDelhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia on December 23 had told reporters that theplay onAmbedkarwill be organised here on a grand scale to tell the story of his struggle and inspire othersIt would be done on a grand scale at a big venue on Western musicals Broadway style Sisodia had saidPTI KND ANB ANB
