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First Look: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati
It is not too often that a filmmaker works for the prestigious Theatre du Chatelet. Love him, hate him or just ignore him, but we should definitely give it to him for taking this path which not many have or are given permission to. he will be directing a Ballet-Opera called Padmavati. More about it from here
Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali will direct Padmavati, a 1923 opera-ballet by Albert Roussel, for France’s prestigious opera house Theatre du Chatelet in March, next year. Initially six performances of Padmavati will be presented in Paris from March 14 to 24, 2008.
So, what is Padmavati all about?
Leading a mainly-French cast, Marie-Nicole Lemieux from the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec will play the title role of a woman who falls prey to a vile bargain, in a lyrical tale set in 13th-century India.
French composer Albert Roussel (1869 - 1937) will always be remembered for his innovative composition of Padmavati. He travelled to India in 1909 along with his wife where he was exposed to the medieval Hindu legend of Queen Padmavati, who sacrificed her life for love. Fascinated by this story, Roussel decided to set it to music
and thus opera-ballet Padmavati (1923) was created. Padmavati by Bhansali will be based on Roussel with new interpretations.Opened in 1862, the Théâtre du Châtelet has seen many famous faces in its history. Mahler conducted his first concert in France there in 1900 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and it hosted the première season of Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes company in 1909 and their later productions of Petrushka, The Firebird and Prelude á l’après-midi d’un faune. It is now a diverse venue, putting on ballet, opera, concerts and films
According to he wanted to do this to take a break from his movies.
After ‘Saawariya’ this is just the break from making movies that I needed. I feel any artiste needs to grow beyond the home turf
We all know how Mr.Bhansali likes to play with his musicals and colors. Over to him
The opera has always been one of my favourite forms of musical expression. When the Theatre Du Chatelet offered me a chance to direct an opera long before the release of ‘Saawariya’ I was in two minds. My entire focus was on the film. But the team from Paris was gentle and persuasive very soon I was hooked.
The challenge is to preserve the essence of ‘Padmavati’ while making it connected with the European audience. It’s so new and so challenging for me, I’m nervous and exhilarated
Take a look at some of these pictures from Padmavati. First look.
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40 Responses to “First Look: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati”
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wow.. the opulence in this one is way better than the crapulence in saawariya.. good for him.
the sets look dreamy. wish i could catch it.
i’ll take ya
;)
BEAUTIFUL.
hmmmn…looks interesting.
but 14-24 :(
To be honest I think the theatre/musical/opera environment might suit Bhansali’s style better. And good for him for earning such a respected position.
there are sill tickets available (abt 40 e) for the easter holiday. Paris door nahin.
wow!!! looks beautiful. always felt that even saawariya was more of opera. good that he is finally in that territory.
I may not like his films much, but man he can make sets look gorgeous.
yes, i agree that opera would be suit SLB better. but whatever happened to the filmmaker who gave us the brilliant Khamoshi-the musical?
Man this looks grandiose!thanx for the pics… Operas are one of the most difficult forms of performing arts, i believe. Happened to catch Madama Butterfly in amchi Mumbai [first time i saw an opera] and was completely taken by this form of story telling.Perhaps Bhansali would score in here more than anywhere else.
I have never seen an opera…but is it somewhat like what is shown in Aaja Nachle ? How was it compared to an ideal one ( on a scale of 1 to 10 ) ? :d
Incredible rhythm in those colours! Bravo Bhansali…
kcp, Aaja Nachle was NOT Opera. It was a musical. The best example of Opera on the hindi screen would be that scene from Dil Chahta Hai.
Great..am sure SLB would do a fab job..
And best thing that could have happened to SLB..he can follow it up with a Mega release of Saawarian in France - all is not lost!!
Tony, I did not find any difference between both the scenes ( DCH & AN )…except that in DCH there wa sa Moti Operawaali singing in her Moti awaaz !! If this typical voice is required/compulsory then I agree that the AN scene was not an opera :)
@3 cdrakenc -
was that comment for me?
NYC-Paris-NYC = $472.00
SLB opera = E 80
An evening with dabba = priceless
send pic to email id first
;)
(as hey say in tamil adhai naanga sollanum”)
Am sure SLB is gonna rock this one too…
why can’t you judge me on my inner beauty, instead of asking for a pic? wind and sun have ravaged my visage but my soul remains as darkly beautiful as it was the day i was born.
send me an xray AND a photo by email then.
;)
KCP, areh wohi tho! You know the saying about operas (and life)… “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings!”
Aditya… I’m not sure how to answer that question… I’ve been wondering that myself for years… I haven’t seen a SLB film in theatres since Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam… I didn’t go for any film after that because the over-indulgence was evident in the promos themselves… it’s only gotten worse over the years… if he came up with another Khamoshi, or anything that raw, that close to reality (and away from him 40lacs ki saari waali dream world in blue lu land) then I’d be there 1st day 1st show.
I spoke to Bhansali on Saturday hours after the first screening… Here’s the interview
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080318/jsp/entertainment/story_9030087.jsp
but PDG, apparntly it got no response/no gr8 reviews outside. dont know whats true n whats not.
our british correspondent saw the first screening and it did get an extended standing ovation… dont know about the other shows…
are prtaim, outside bolchi re…baire… presse…papere…review te…bheetarer gappo na
Patience , Bhadralok!
Your correspondent will have a revew up if not on PFC at least on my blog after i see it (will be before this weekend, dabba’s pic or no).
Patience , Bhadralok!
Your correspondent will have a review up if not on PFC at least on my blog after i see it (will be before this weekend, dabba’s pic or no).
now posting live from the chatelet theater !!!
entracte report:
spectacular visuals( slb mise, omang kumar bandula scenographie, somak mukharjee lumiere,rajesh pratap singh costumes.)
tanushree shankar’s dancers are a bit of a let down . slb’s opera direction is slightly weak, it feels like a beautiful opera without a heart.
still the french love it and the theater is packed(limited engagement tho).
psst allaudin khilji has a brahmin sidekick( also in the original story) that is a prominent villain.
End of the musical report: for people used to Sanjay Leela Bhansali movies, this opera at 90 minutes comes in as mere souffle compared.
It is however a must see production. Tanushree Shankar’s troup takes over part deux and delivers very gripping performances.
My view has always been that SLB understands grief better than he understands joy. Although the shift to grief from pastel grandeur is sudden, it suits the musical play to have more gravitas.
I wish the leads had more solo parts, but there’s only this much a director can do with a composed libretto.
More on my blog/ PFC when I finish writing a review.
regs..
Is it real Elephant on stage?
Hi cdrakenc,
I read your review and found it very informative. :) I was curious to know if it did receive an extended standing ovation and how were your colleagues’/friends’/other people’s reactions of the opera besides the fact that it was opulent/colorful? Subjectively, was it intense and creative and did SLB or Tanushree implement some good interpretations of Roussel’s text in direction or choreography respectively? I saw the French Finance minister raving about it on an NDTV video.
Sorry for so many questions but since I can’t afford to attend the Paris opera, I’m inquisitive about it. Would appreciate your response.
Suketu,
The response was appreciative, polite but not overly enthusiastic.
People with me found it beautiful colorful and different from their usual fare that they see at the opera. It is also a rarely performed work so they didnt know how much was sanjay leela bhansali’s creation and how much was from the libretto itself. They treated it all as if it was SLB’s creativity.
As to the Ballet itself, tanushree shankar’s dancers didn’t break any new ground as far as indian dancing is concerned. The success of the opera came more from the fact that they blended in ollywood , interpretive dance indian and opera/ballet techniques including the chorus very seamlessly.
For someone that has seen SLB’s Bollywood films, though, this was just the triumph of the bollywood genre.
Shekar
There was a real elephant, a real white tiger and a real horse (at different times) on stage.
Thanks a lot for your detailed response! :) I really appreciate it.
thanks to tanushree di & sanjay & my didi(debashree tewari)ato sundar programTA korar jarna.
@cdrakenc
IS it possible for you to upload a snippet of this play and share the link with us if you have or anybody here has?
Ah, With the Pdmavati news, the ego-maniac and the self-marketing Bhansali is just trying hard to cover up the Saawariya (saa-bore-iya, as many call it) disaster.. Nothing else..
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