Thoughts on ZANGOORA: the Bollywood Musical Extravaganza

As I arrived at the Kingdom of Dreams, I was dazzled by the massive SCALE and GRANDEUR of the setting, the sprawling culmination of art, culture and cuisine. Faithful to the resplendent settings, the musical 'Zangoora', showcased in the Nautanki Mahal, is nothing less than magnificent in terms of the production and the scale. The world of the Kingdom of Dreams, located in Gurgaon, Haryana, (just beyond New Delhi) is comparable to the theaters of Las Vegas.

'Zangoora' itself has a fairly traditional plot which would make a weak movie but works for the musical. What was extremely DISAPPOINTING for me, was the choreography. It seemed, since the sets were so sensational, the choreography simply relied on the large number of people, the amazing costumes and the use of props. There didn't seem to be a lot of thought put into it, and having seen Shiamak Davar's shows in the past, it seemed like a recycling of old ideas. There was nothing that was unique or fresh. The dancers performed well and I know that musicals rely on stereotypes but everything that is Bollywood does not need to be so CHEESY (for lack of a better word!)

There were some dances that were stronger than others such as Gauhar Khan (Laatchi's) dance (I have forgotten the song, but it is right after she finds out that Zangoora doesn't love her) which she performed with skill and intensity, and the sculptural choreography worked well. Her body language was very powerful; in fact her emotions and personality were better portrayed by her dancing than her acting.

I was not very moved by Kashmira Irani. She is a graceful dancer but her performance was not riveting. It was beautiful without being touching. Her lyrical movement was somewhat convincing, but she could not do justice to the more typical item songs like 'Mehbooba Mehbooba,' and 'Choli ke Peeche' was particularly disappointing.

The actor who played Zangoora (Hussain did not perform that night!) had a certain ease in his dancing and acting, which made one connect and empathize with him. Even though I didn't think of him as an incredible dancer, he was connected to the movement and was able to communicate the emotions behind each song. His acting and stage presence were memorable.

The entire cast of dancers were exploding with energy and enthusiasm but their performance was sometimes a bit fake. Expressions for a Bollywood dance, especially on stage, do have to be exaggerated, but a lot of dancers seemed to put on a face, rather than really feel the movement and then emote. There was a difference in the level even within the ensemble dancers. Several dancers from the cast did stand out on the basis of their skill and performance.

What I did really like, besides the amazing production of course, was the use of the SPACE. The action was not limited to the stage. Dancers often came into the audience. There were entries happening above the audience, with the use of aerial apparatus. The aerial dancers showered the audience with flower petals. At one point there was a "rainfall" of foam particles which landed on the audience, and we hurriedly covered our drink glasses! There were projection screens on either side of the stage, which were used well to enhance certain scenes.

Overall, the show was SPECTACULAR. I have been fortunate enough to have seen a lot of shows in various countries and cannot help but compare. I think the environment created by 'Zangoora' can compete with any international show and Bollywood has a mass appeal that cannot be ignored. The tickets, priced from Rs 1000 to Rs. 6000, may not be affordable for all, but are definitely worth it. Being a dancer, I cannot help but focus on the intricacies of the choreography but for those who can look beyond it, 'Zangoora' is a VISUAL TREAT. I am really excited that such an amazing facility has been created and I know it will pave the way for other productions that will only continue to evolve.