On 21, 22 and 23 November 2024, Crescendo Theatre transported its audience back to the vibrant Bollywood era of the 1970s with their stage production Mahim Junction—The Revisit, performed at the Space in NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art), Kensington, Sydney.
Created by Sohaila Kapur and directed by Jyotsna Sharma, the performance offered an evening of nostalgic delight, allowing the audience to relive the vibrant, masala-filled days of 1970s Bollywood “fillums”.
Sohaila Kapoor is the creator of Mahim Junction, a theatrical production which takes a look at the vibrant and dramatic essence of 1970s Bollywood films and brings it to stage. The play explores themes of love, ambition, social struggles, and the complexities of human relationships, set against the backdrop of a slum in suburban Mumbai.
Jyotsna Sharma is a seasoned theatre professional with two decades of global experience in performing arts. Her expertise spans acting, directing, writing, and teaching drama. Additionally, she has experience in voice-over and dubbing, collaborating with prominent channels such as HBO, NPR (USA), Fox Prime, NDTV Good Times, and National Geographic. She has also appeared in numerous short films and TV commercials.
Before permanently relocating to Sydney, Jyotsna worked with some of the most renowned names in Indian theatre and film, including Mita Vashist, Shishir Sharma, Aamir Raza Husain, Sohaila Kapur, Danish Hussain, and Dolly Ahluwalia Tewari.
Since moving to Sydney, Jyotsna has actively contributed to the performing arts scene, acting in various film and theatre projects directed by Indian and Australian creators. She has also directed six major productions, with Guards at the Taj, Zindagi 50-50, and The Times We Live In earning particular acclaim. Jyotsna is the founder of Crescendo Theatre & Film, her own acting academy, and she also teaches drama at Helen O’Grady Drama Academy.
Bollywood has evolved significantly since the 1970s. The heroine is no longer the coy, shy, and demure figure of the past. Today, she is bold, confident, hitting the gym, and fearlessly kicking butt. The classic Bollywood vamp has faded, with the modern heroine now taking on that role through her sensual item number performances. Today’s heroes no longer wear outlandish clothes and deliver cringe-worthy “dialogues.” Instead, they are suave, sophisticated, and embody the traits of a SNAG (Sensitive New Age Guy).
Mahim Junction brings the essence of classic 1970s Bollywood to life, embracing iconic elements like the hero, heroine, villain, vamp, comedian, cross-dresser, and of course, the signature song and dance routines. This nostalgic tribute to the era skillfully blends familiar stereotypes with vibrant storytelling, a mix of drama & music capturing the spirit of retro cinema.
The story is set in a slum near Mahim Junction, a local train station in suburban Mumbai. The eclectic group of residents includes Rahim (Aditya Dave) who is in love with Radha (Dhanvi Dave), the neighbourhood beauty with dreams of becoming a film star.
Johnny, the drunkard, who provided the comic relief drowns his troubles in alcohol while eyeing Ayesha (Mehul Somaiya), the eunuch. The loud villain of the tale is the film producer and Don, (Gaurav Gandhi) , who manipulates Randy, a naïve India-returned Harvard graduate eager to contribute to his homeland, to execute his sinister plans. Rahim is imprisoned on false charges, and the story also includes a bomb blast orchestrated by fundamentalists, adding to the drama.
The musical weaves through two main stories: a love affair between a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy, and Don’s machinations for political and personal gains. The two stories collide bringing them together in true Bollywood style for a happy ending with the slum residents taking charge of the situation, getting Rahim released from jail and reuniting him with Radha. It’s a retro plot with all the masala ingredients included.
All the actors delivered outstanding performances. The cast consisted of Sohaila Kapur (senior Radha); Dhanvi Dave – Radha (heroine); Aditya Dave – Rahim (hero); Viren Vather – Johnny (male alcoholic); Mehul Somaiya – Ayesha (eunuch); Upala Sunthankar – Briganza aunty (female alcoholic); Ruchita Dhiman – bai (Radha’s evil stepmother); Poornima Menon – Leelavati ( Radha’s bua); Namita Matani – Vyjayanti amma; Shikha Arora – Saroja the female cop; Mahesh Arora – Chotu; Sonu Rastogi – Rasika; Aeshwari Shetty – Mona darling; Shaun Premnath – NRI; Gourav Gandhi (Don)
Special mention is in order for Mehul Somaiya for his hilarious portrayal of the eunuch. He would have brought the roof down if not for NIDA’s strong roof build. Aeshwari Shetty, playing Mona Darling, portrayed the Don’s moll with a touch of classic vamp charm reminiscent of Helen. Her performance even drew a few wolf whistles from the audience, reflecting the typical response of cinema-goers from that time. Viren Vather as the drunkard kept the audience entertained.
The other credits are: Music consultant – Avijit Sarkar; Playback singers – Shirley Angela D’Souza , Vikas Kolar; Set – Ruth Fingret; Lights – Mehran Mortezaei; Sound – Sanjeev Raja; Stage management & logistics – Rushi Dave; Production – Limcy Sunil
The set was simple yet impactful, with a chai cart, a tree cut-out for the hero and heroine to circle around, and the all-important casting couch.
The only thing missing was the hero and heroine’s iconic song-and-dance routine in pouring rain, but that might have been a bit tricky to pull off on the NIDA stage! LOL!
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🎭 Crescendo Theatre’s #MahimJunction—The Revisit revived 1970s #Bollywood magic at NIDA, Sydney. 💫 A nostalgic performance full of masala, drama & love. 💃 Did you enjoy the retro vibes? 🕺 Let us know! 💬 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/tfw4dHcdqP
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) December 1, 2024
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