Stage set for ‘Mesmerizing India’ charity show

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Lovers of Vintage Bollywood are in for a rare treat on February 25 when a famous Kathak dancer-choreographer and researcher, Manjari Chaturvedi, brings her theatre production “Begums & Baijis of Bollywood” to Bahrain.

The programme ‘Mesmerizing India’ will take place at the Gulf International Convention Centre, and the glamorous evening will also include a fine dining sit-down dinner of regional Indian delicacies and a Retro Bollywood Playlist of top songs from the ‘70s onwards by the talented Mumbai-based Rajessh Iyer.

There will also be dancing for guests to the music of DJ Mani.

Tickets were formally launched for the show by Shaikha Huda Al Khalifa to the Chairman of the Bahrain-India Society, Mr. Abdulrahman Juma and BIS Director Mr. Harish Gopinath.

BIS is the show’s Event Partner and has booked 100 seats.

For bookings call 3668 4011 or 3300 6543. The programme is in aid of the Bahrain Cancer Society and deserving local charities.

“Begums and Baijis of Bollywood” is a unique theatrical dance production which pays homage to the erstwhile women performers of Hindi cinema such as Begum Akhtar, Jaddan Bai, the celebrated beauty and mother of actress Nargis, Jahanara Kajjan and Mukhtar Begum.

They came from generations of performers – the tawaif tradition – and were the first ever cinema stars when Hindi cinema started and their amazing music nurtured the era of sound after silent movies.

The sumptuous dramatic production combines stately Urdu dialogue and stunning backdrops with Kathak dance performances by the group, set to some of the finest semi-classical film songs: “Mohey Panghat pe Nandlaal”, “Hamari Atariya pe”, “Thadey Rahiyo” from the film Pakeezah and the perennial favourite to this day, “Aaj Jaane ki Zidd na Karo”.

In the dramatic recreation, two actors on stage tell stories of various aspects of Hindi cinema in a well scripted dialogue giving insight to the life and times of these brilliantly talented women who took the world of cinema by storm with their art.

The actors while talking share anecdotes and real-life incidents from the lives of the forgotten incredible artists and trace the initial history of Hindi cinema through these women.

Title Sponsor of the event is BEYON Money while Power Sponsors are Alba and Lavender Home Decor. Co-Sponsors are ICICI Bank, Asian Paints Berger, Primrose Hospitality, BEMCO and Kotakkal Ayurvedic Centre. The event is powered by Convex and PRM Marketing Consultancy wll.