Growing up in Mumbai in a family of academicians and doctors, Harsiddhi Mody was fortunate to be surrounded by a blend of intellectual pursuits and a deep appreciation for music but was not allowed to pursue a career in the latter. And when she left India in 1997 for Australia, she was certain about embarking on a musical trajectory in a new land.
“My parents were very much into studies. I wanted to perform as a child artist, but my father said, ‘if you want to perform, do it on stage at school,’” she recalls with a laugh. Her first cousin, the famous Vikram Phadnis, got lucky, she adds, as he skipped the medical degree and produced two Marathi films, establishing himself in the Bollywood entertainment industry.
It’s no spoiler to reveal that Mody is the face of Melbourne’s Khelaiya Productions, a theatrical play, which celebrated its successful five-year milestone this year (more on that later).
Once in Melbourne, Mody took every opportunity to catch up with Indian culture by attending various concerts and cultural events. “I am a big fan of Hindustani classical music and, in general, of folk music,” she says.
Keeping the musical flame alive, she enrolled her son in Hindustani classical music lessons with Deepika Shome. “I wanted to ensure the connection with music stayed strong.”
Mody believes that her father and maternal grandmother had a profound understanding of music and the arts. Her maternal grandmother, in particular, dabbled in poetry writing. “I can see the genes didn’t skip a generation.”
Once her son finished his VCE, Mody became associated with a group that Mrs. Shome, her son’s teacher, introduced her to—a dancing group in search of performers. Though she did say she was too old to dance, she somehow became a part of it. “I was very much like a fish out of water, you don’t dance in your mid-forties,” she adds.
However, due to her interest in plays and production activities, they assigned her prompting and some acting work, around 2011-12. Taking on the role of a mother in one of her first short plays, “Panchi Aise Aate Hain,” proved to be a remarkable success for her.
While Mody thoroughly enjoyed the experience, leading her to discover a keen interest in the production side, she recognised her passion for music and the limited opportunities in that domain. That was when she decided to start Khelaiya Productions, realising the gap in musicals. It completed five years this year.
At the heart of Melbourne’s Khelaiya Productions is the passion to ‘bring the core music of India, which is folk and classical, backed by a rich narrative.’ In this way, she believes she is providing a platform for many artists while following her passion.
Mody found talented singers, musicians, and artists. Khelaiya Productions’ first program was “Mharo Pranam,” a Meera bhajan sung by Kishori Amonkar, serving as a fine example of Braj literature. The show featuring 18 artistes, staged at the Christine Strachan Theatre in Oakleigh, drew a full house. “People had no idea about Khelaiya Productions, but you have no idea about the talents Melbourne has,” she says.
Building on its first success, Mody proceeded with “Umrao Jaan Ada” even before it happened in India. This production is based on the antiquated story derived from what is considered the first Urdu novel, ‘Umrao Jaan Ada’ (1899) by Mirza Hadi Ruswa, which has inspired two Bollywood films.
“I bought an Urdu book, wrote characters and dialogues, created Mirza as the character, and incorporated popular songs from Umrao Jaan. The show achieved another full house at Kel Watson Theatre in Forest Hill, proving to be a massive hit with over 700 in attendance.”
Melbourne’s response was overwhelming.
Khelaiya Productions’ third venture tapped into Bengal with “Na Hanyate,” a novel written in 1974 in Bengali by Maitreyi Devi, an Indian poet and novelist who was the protégée of the great Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
“I wrote the full script in Hindi and English. It is a lot of work, which is why we have one musical a year,” says Mody. But with COVID upending lives in 2021, “Na Hanyate” took to the stage in 2022 at the Drum Theatre in Dandenong.
During the COVID hiatus, Mody also worked on a trilogy titled “Modern Love Story” with Melbourne artists, which she shot on her mobile phone. The short movie project fuelled her creativity, as she was determined not to waste time.
Marking its fifth anniversary this year, Khelaiya Productions presented “RangManch Parv,” featuring three Hindi plays, including Mody’s original musical titled “Narsaiyo.” The musical provides a glimpse into the remarkable journey of the revered 15th-century poet-saint Narsinh Mehta, set against the backdrop of Gujarat. The production features his well-known composition, “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiyo.”
For 2024, Khelaiya Productions is presenting “Devdas,” a Hindi musical based on the novel by the eminent Bengali writer, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Working on musicals in Hindi, Urdu, or English is not easy, says Mody. She faces familial concerns, especially when the artists come from different walks of life, attempting to find the ultimate form of musical evocation. “The challenge is in getting that synergy working,” she says.
“Khelaiya Productions is not just about showcasing people’s artistic side; we are also encouraging individuals to bring their own poetry or experiment with creativity through performing arts. We are working on this caption,” she further adds.
Mody hung up her accountancy boots this year to focus more on musical production. “I started late in life; I am two decades behind. I have to make up time; my time is numbered,” she laments.
Clearly, Melbourne’s Khelaiya Productions has a fierce devotion that Mody inspires.
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Harsiddhi Mody defies career norms, shaping vibrant musical narratives with Melbourne’s Khelaiya Productions, marking five successful years, blending Indian culture & artistic passion. 🎭🎶🇮🇳🌟🎉 #TheIndianSun @indira_laisramhttps://t.co/UKkx4N6WFS
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