TLI Staff
New Delhi: Kamal Pruthi, also known as Kabuliwala in the storytelling world, is back with another ace musical show titled JashneGanga after successfully driving crowds through Land of Snake Charmers.
JashneGanga, as the name suggests delves into the birth, life and times, threats to the river Ganga embellished with Bollywood numbers and the soul-stirring ryhthms of Been, Tumba and dhol.
JashneGanga performed in Majma style celebrates the existence of the world’s biggest river through mythology, science, music, quiz, stand-up comedy, conservation and dance.
Majmakar Kamal Kabuliwala told Top Lead India more about the enchanting musical:
So what is this Majma about? Is this about cleaning of Ganga and preachy in nature?
Majmas are in nature full of entertainment and preachiness is neither part of the Majma format and just not my thing as an artist. Even if there’s a lesson or a message to be conveyed to the audience, it is done subtly and with an attractive packaging of high entertainment.
Saperas are back in JashneGanga. What was the thought behind associating Saperas to JashneGanga?
A river is not just about water, it is a thought process, for some it may be mythological symbol, and for some it is scientific. The way India is called the land of snake charmers, similarly it is also called the land of the river Ganga and therefore it was imperative to bring the two identities of the same country together. And since we are the children of the river Ganga, it is time for us to save our mother.
Do you think Ganga can be cleaned?
Yes, that’s why we are here. And it is not dirty entirely. Only certain stretches.
What is Ganga for you?
For me Ganga is an everyday celebration for billions of people and that’s why we also named the Majma JashneGanga. Like on festivals everything is cleaned up, and if Ganga is an everyday festival, her cleanliness will have to be an everyday affair and not a once in a while activity.
Can you elaborate on the Bollywood connections in your Majma JashneGanga?
I didn’t have to weave the Bollywood connections. They were already there. I just identified them and put them in a nice sequence. A lot of Bollywood films have had connection with the Ganga river, not just metaphors but also direct relevance like in Ram Teri Ganga Maili and then in many songs Ganga river has been featured like “Ohre taal mile nadi ke jal me, nadi mile sagar me”. Many films have been shot on the banks of the Ganga river as well. Even the latest Bollywood film like Masan, where Vicky Kaushal works at the Ghats of the river Ganga.
Any Story around river Ganga, which you would like to share?
I would say, for that come and be part of the Majma. Like in films, the stories of Majme are not revealed in the interviews.
Delhi’s river Yamuna is also choking and it is often called a drain. Can you create an entertaining musical Majma around the Yamuna as well?
Why not? I would love to see people celebrating their birthdays, anniversaries and going for picnics and boating on the river Yamuna. Once we as the citizens of Delhi start taking the ownership of our rivers, the governments will do the needful to maintain it like a healthy river.
Also read | Majmakaar Kabuliwala is back, this time with a riveting musical on Snake Charmers