This modern musical will garner ‘likes’ from millennials

Afew years ago my friend, actor-singer Bugs Bhargava Krishna, and I began to conceive the story and lyrics for an original stage musical titled #Sing-IndiaSing. For two guys, who’d been weaned on the rock

opera

brilliance of Jesus Christ Superstar, and the hip hop ‘todayness’of Hamilton , this was our opportunity to write our own musical—one that would appeal to the Indian palette, was not based on

mythology

, or a motion picture adapted from screen to stage, nor a mammoth Broadway replica. But a fully original piece, stemming from , our everyday lives, to explore the social media world, one of trolls and hashtags, and told entirely through song.


With the lyrics down, we needed a score that could travel the whole galaxy of contemporary music. Sure, the masses should come in their hordes, but we wanted millennials and teenagers too, who may not see plays, but should have our songs on their playlists. One man was on our wishlist for his ability to traverse rock, hip hop, soul, indie, Indian classical, item number, you name it. The maestro who’d put Coke Studio on the map, Clinton Cerejo. So when Brian Tellis got Bugs, Clinton and me together, we knew we’d have a totally awesome soundtrack, and we do. To direct this huge piece of work, combining stagecraft, video effects and technology, we needed a magician—that man was director Nadir Khan.

Finally and vitally, Aadyam backed us, giving our show life.

The world we’ve inhabited is that of the singing contest in alarger web of reality TV. In an India where lines are blurred between right and wrong, #SIS is the story of four contestants reaching for the stars in a world where ‘likes’ rule.

For those who have had the good fortune to see Phantom of the Opera, and other conventional musicals, you will see similar special effects and foot stomping choreography by Bertwin D’souza. For the younger set, you will hear music that’s certain to make it to your Ipod-—this is a real rock concert. Indie music fans will see Uday Benegal, Siddharth Basrur, Sarosh Nanavaty and Kamakshi Rai belting out their songs, while sinking their teeth into meaty parts. Conventional audiences looking for drama will get love, betrayal and excitement as Tavish Bhattacharya, Brian Tellis, Asif Ali Beg and Suchitra Pillai flex their acting muscles. (There’s some exciting new talent in Abhishek Krishnan, Naquita Dsouza and Delraaz Bunshah). For the artistic minded, it’s a multimedia show with video providing a vital aspect to the story telling. And for all of you, who like audience interaction, you’ll have to come to the show to experience it. So, the countdown begins! On the weekend of Oct 12, head to NCPA to witness #SIS presented by Aadyam.