As a trained Indian classical dancer and a music enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for recreational experiences that showcase these arts. The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center was launched with great fanfare and media coverage a few months back with the premiere of the dance musical, “The Great Indian Musical: Civilisation to Nation” and it immediately caught my interest. But when a simple perusal of the ticket prices online, burned an imaginary hole in my pocket, I deferred any plans of attending the show. The second time around, the substantially lowered costs prompted me to finally bite the bait.
The narrative is led by a voice-over the inimitable Amitabh Bachchan, who takes us on a deep dive into Indian literature and mythology by reciting shlokas and dialogues from the Vedas, Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. From there on, we explore the Mughal era and the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in India. Coming back to the recent past, the musical explores key moments of the Indian Independence struggle by paying tributes to iconic figures like Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallahabhai Patel and Swami Vivekanand.
The narrative is punctuated with dance forms such as the traditional Indian Temple dance, Bharat Natyam followed by Kathak, and popular folk dances like Garba, Lezim, etc. For me, it was these dancers that stole the show! The grace, perfection, and synchrony with each performance that was executed, brought wayward tears to my eyes. The impact felt was even more because of the light arrangements and backgrounds that accompanied each dance. The auditorium is aesthetically designed and the infrastructure available truly makes you feel that you are witnessing courtesans dancing in Mughal places or Gopis celebrating in the gardens of Vrindavan. Music too, is in perfect symphony in this play as we witness live performances by diverse artists showcasing Marathi Bhakti Geet, Ghazals, Sufi music. I am very appreciative, that Bollywood music has not been used much through the entire show as it has had more than enough of its share in the limelight.
While the show is a treat to audiences, I feel it was also a great opportunity for performing artists. Though we may be a culturally rich country, I think exponents of classical dance forms get few opportunities to showcase these skills on prominent platforms. My grudge against the show management would be that the names of the dancers were not listed in their booklet. Though I understand that the names must have been many, I felt they should have been accorded this mark of respect.
Knowing the manifoldness of arts in our country, I can understand that it would be impossible to represent each one. Yet, I couldn’t help feeling a pinch that lesser-known dance forms like Odissi and Kathakali have missed out.
All in all, it was a lovely experience. Moving ahead, I hope this stage continues to give opportunities to Indian artists. At the same time, no show can be a success if it doesn’t reach a large audience. If we want every class of society to embrace our arts, I suggest the organizers consider a drop in the ticket prices.
Let art be for everyone, both the masses and the classes!
