A new theatrical production is bringing the Ramayana to the stage through a different lens this Dussehra, with MAHABALI placing Lord Hanuman at the centre of its story. Produced by Randhir Ranjan Roy and Abhishek Narayan, the Broadway-style musical combines theatre, music, visual effects and traditional Indian performance forms to explore Hanuman’s journey.
Producer Randhir Ranjan Roy said, “With MAHABALI, our goal is to elevate Indian mythological theatre to global production standards. Speaking about the role, Aankiet Mohan said, “Bringing a character as emotionally complex and physically imposing as Hanuman to a live Broadway-style stage is both the greatest honour and challenge of my career. He said, “Playing Ravan opposite a narrative centered on Hanuman shifts the entire dramatic friction of the story. Shaan said, “The music of MAHABALI is designed to evoke deep devotion while maintaining the theatrical momentum of a Broadway show. Kailash Kher said, “The vocal landscape of MAHABALI demands an raw, earth-shattering spiritual energy that matches the cosmic power of Lord Hanuman.
The production draws on India’s mythology, indigenous martial arts and folklore, while focusing on themes of devotion, loyalty, humility and selfless service. Rather than presenting Hanuman only as a warrior of immense strength, the musical looks at the emotional and spiritual dimensions of the character and his relationship with Lord Rama. By blending powerhouse storytelling, state-of-the-art stagecraft and a breathtaking audio video technique, we are reviving India’s rich cultural heritage in a format that speaks directly to modern, multi-generational audiences. Aankiet Mohan plays Hanuman, with Arya Babbar as Ravan, Saanand Verma as Vistarvachie and Pankaj Berry as Kaal Drishti. Mukul Nag and Aadesh Bharadwaj are also part of the cast. We are steering away from two-dimensional tropes to show his immense strength side-by-side with his profound, absolute humility. For Arya Babbar, playing Ravan in a narrative centred on Hanuman offers a different dramatic dynamic. It allows us to explore the epic clashes with a fresh, gripping intensity that live audiences have never felt before. Music forms a major part of the production, with Kailash Kher , Shaan , Raghu Dixit and Amit Gupta lending their voices to the original soundtrack. Every track serves as an emotional heartbeat for Hanuman’s journey. Through this soundtrack, we have infused ancient mantras and powerful rhythms to create a sonic experience that doesn’t just entertain, but transports the audience straight into the heart of the heavens. It is a musical awakening born out of absolute devotion.”
MAHABALI will open with a two-show premiere in Mumbai on October 18, with performances at 4.02pm and 7.29pm at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA. The production will return to Mumbai on October 24 at the Nehru Centre, Worli, with shows at the same timings, before travelling to Bengaluru on November 14. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.