'Mughal-e-Azam will herald new path for Indian theatre'

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi says the musical play of cult classic 'Mughal-e-Azam' will open the way for Indian theatre in international space.

"I am proud of the fact that Feroz Abbas Khan got international collaborators here, and finally we have something that I think will herald new path in what Indian theatre has to offer," says Shabana Azmi.

Shabana Azmi along with many Bollywood celebrities like Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Irrfan Khan and Jackie Shroff among others were spotted at the premiere of Feroz Abbas Khan's broadway-styled musical play Mughal-e-Azam here on Friday night.

Shabana, who has worked under the direction of Feroz for an epistolary play Tumhari Amrita, said: "I have had the privilege working with Firoz Abbas Khan in a play called Tumhari Amrita, which had run for 22 years before sad demise of Farooq Sheikh. I know whatever Feroz touches is excellent. I have great expectations."

Based on the epic film 'Mughal-e-Azam', the broadway-styled musical play has six songs originally composed by Naushad, and two new songs are created for the show.

Eminent poet and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar at the event spoke about making the script of the movie as a part of college curriculum: "Believe me the script of Mughal-e-Azam should be taught in M.A. Urdu literature.

"It is so good. I was in pre-university when the movie released. I have great respect for Feroz Abbas Khan. He is a very fine director. Whatever he has done so far is exceptionally good. And I am sure he must have done a great job."

'Mughal-e-Azam' will be performed at the NCPA (National Centre For Performing Arts), daily from October 21 till first week of November followed by the staging at the end of November for another two weeks into December in New Delhi.

--IANS

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