‘Kaneez’, a Broadway-style musical features the voices of Shaan, Papon, and Javed Ali.

When director Randhir Ranjan Roy first encountered the 1920s love story of Tanno Bai and Dharikshan Tiwari, he found in it a tenderness that’s rare today. “The story is about love — pure and fearless — that existed despite casteism and religious differences,” says Randhir, who has directed Kaneez, a new Broadway-style musical, which will premiere in Mumbai on November 28.

Randhir’s adaptation explores the fragile beauty of love that defied boundaries, much like cinematic romances of the 1970s, he grew up admiring. “The kind of love we saw in Pakeezah or Mughal-e-Azam is rarely seen today. People still crave that depth,” he reflects. “I had Meena Kumari’s grace in mind when I conceived this story; it is, in many ways, a tribute to her.”

Though the musical’s title reminds of the classic Pakeezah starring Meena Kumari, Randhir explains, “In the 1920s, a kaneez was a woman taken into a household as a maid or a companion. Our protagonist is a tawaif — a performer, not a courtesan by compulsion, but by passion for singing and dance. She’s called a kaneez because she chooses devotion over subjugation.”

Balancing sensitivity and spectacle has been at the heart of the production. “We’ve treated the theme of faith and caste with respect,” says Randhir. “Our references to Radha-Krishna and Mughal-era traditions are only symbolic. The play speaks about humanity — of a time when acceptance came more naturally than it does today.”

Music as the heartbeat

Music forms the emotional core of Kaneez, binding its contrasting worlds — bhajan and mujra — into one continuum of devotion and desire. “The pundit’s son sings bhajans; the tawaif sings thumris. They are divided by faith, but united by music. That was also true of Tanno Bai and Dharikshan Tiwari.”

The production features the voices of Shaan, Papon, and Javed Ali — each chosen for their distinct tonal depth.

Randhir spent months finding the right performers to embody his vision. “We auditioned many and finally found Kriti Killedar and Gulki Joshi — both trained vocalists with a strong presence — were chosen. Kirti has that blend of innocence and poise we wanted for Mehr, while Gulki carries the dignity and intensity of Tanno Bai. Among the men, Siddharth Nigam brought the youthful sincerity the role demanded.”

Kirti, Gulki and Siddharth found ‘Kaneez’ exciting for its blend of music, dance and theatre. 

Mounting a Broadway-style production in India comes with logistical trials. “Every auditorium is different,” says Randhir. “We’ve had to customise the set to fit venues such as Jamshed Bhabha Theatre in Mumbai while keeping it portable for other cities. Technically, the play will give audiences a world-class experience, but it has taken months of fine-tuning.”

The team has been rehearsing since July, preparing for the November premiere. “It’s been almost 10 months from concept to stage,” says Randhir. “Kaneez runs for two hours, with a short intermission. After Mumbai, we plan to take it to other cities, including Hyderabad. A customised version may be staged in a heritage space like Golconda.”

Kaneez – A Musical Love Story — designed and directed by Randhir Ranjan Roy, will be staged at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai on November 28 and 29.