©Indian actress and dancer Bhavna Pani - Photo by Joel Saget/AFP
Following the triumph of Bharati, Bollywood makes a blazing return to European stages with Devdas, a captivating musical spectacle led by Bhavna Pani.
Indian cinema continues to weave its web beyond its borders, this time capturing the European imagination with the launch of Devdas, a musical comedy based on the eponymous film that enchanted the audience at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. Far from being a mere adaptation, this show promises a renewed theatrical experience, carried by the talented Bhavna Pani, who portrays Chandramukhi, one of the main characters. Before the first performances at the Grand Rex in Paris, Bhavna Pani shared her vision of the project with AFP, emphasizing the importance of approaching this new interpretation with an open mind.
This show follows in the footsteps of Bharati, another success from the Bollywood industry adapted for international stages, in which Bhavna Pani has already demonstrated her immense talent through more than 1,500 performances. With Devdas, she reiterates her artistic commitment, brilliantly embodying Chandramukhi, a courtesan of legendary beauty, in a tragic love story set in Calcutta at the beginning of the 20th century.
More than a simple love story, Devdas is a complex love triangle that explores universal themes of passion, loyalty, and sacrifice. The show features spectacular staging, including thirty artists on stage, over 500 costumes, and about twenty sets, all accompanied by music that blends tradition and modernity. This ambitious 1:40 a.m. production was already praised in Singapore in 2023 for its Broadway-style treatment, demonstrating its potential to captivate an international audience.
France, and Paris in particular, holds a special place in Bhavna Pani’s heart. The actress and dancer sees it as a “second home,” a connection reinforced by her past appearances in the fashion pages of French magazines. Her role goes beyond that of a mere performer; she also acts behind the scenes as a bridge between cultures, ensuring that the show resonates with the European audience through targeted adjustments.
The production of Devdas in Paris is part of a tradition of artistic collaboration between France and India, with the Grand Rex proving to be a symbolic choice for this premiere. This emblematic venue, known for its Art Deco architecture and rich history of cultural events, offers a perfect setting for this fusion of Bollywood cinema and musical theater.
Ashvin Gidwani, the show’s producer, highlights the importance of Paris in the global artistic landscape and how Devdas fits into this dynamic interplay of the arts. With meticulous attention paid to every detail, from choreography to costumes to music, Devdas promises a total immersion in the romantic and tragic universe of this Indian epic.
Devdas serves as a bridge between cultures, a dialogue between the East and the West, illustrated by the passion and dedication of Bhavna Pani and the entire production team. This show marks an important step in the export of Indian art, demonstrating once again that love and tragedy, in their purest expressions, are truly universal.
With AFP
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