Epic entertainment Growing up at St Joseph's Convent and later Loreto Convent, I was conversant with the Bible — the book of Job and the book of Psalms. What I missed was the joy of learning our own itihaas and epics, which I consider the greatest riches of this country: the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Bhagavad Gita. With that in mind, I broke my promise to have a relaxed, homey Sunday with zero stilettos, makeup, and social engagements.
Lilette Dubey's 'Jaya' was totally worth it. This epic Mahabharata, told as a musical fit for Broadway, was lyrical and nostalgic with an element of poignancy. I sat transfixed, taking in this full rendering of the Mahabharata incredibly encapsulated in the short span of the show, admirably edited to tell the tale in its entirety.
I had seen and greatly appreciated the earlier version from 25 years ago, mesmerised by Mahesh Mahboobani's dance. The present one demands some contemplation from the audience, with its greater philosophical stance, giving an edge to the presentation of the epic that has endured for millennia, yet is ever worth repeating. It needs to be brought to the awareness of present audiences that may not know the epic, but even for those who are familiar, that adds to its appeal.
The direction was excellent, the background score, sound effects, chiaroscuro lighting, the fog emissions and singing made it a memorable musical. The actors performed well. Sherrin Vergese as Krishna and Duryodhan stood out with the impact of t.