‘Disco Dancer – The Musical’: 5 Reasons Why You Must Watch This Theatrical Take On Mithun Chakraborty’s Blockbuster

This theatrical extravaganza, ‘Disco Dancer – The Musical’ brings alive on stage, 80's nostalgia and the golden memories of the Mithun Chakraborty blockbuster. Here are a few reasons why this should be on your watch list this long weekend.

Prateek Sur

Updated on: 22 April 2023 5:05 am

A Still From 'Disco Dancer – The Musical'

After wowing audiences at London's theatre hub West End last November, the grand stage production, ‘Disco Dancer – The Musical’, which premiered on April 14 in Mumbai. The core idea behind the musical is to pay a heartfelt tribute to 80's Bollywood and revive the memories of B Subhash and Mithun Chakraborty's international blockbuster ‘Disco Dancer’.

While every Indian must have watched the film onscreen quite a number of times, but this musical extravaganza is a theatrical experience, which not many would have experienced in their lives. Here are a few reasons which make this glorious musical extravaganza an unmissable treat:

It Is The Recreation Of A Cult Film And A Tribute To 80’s Bollywood

In 1982, B Subhash's ‘Disco Dancer' was one of the earliest dance-based films and catapulted Mithun Chakraborty to international stardom, thanks to its emotional rags-to-riches story and a golden musical soundtrack by Bappi Lahiri. The film struck a chord with audiences across Asia, the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. It became the second-highest-grossing film ever in the Soviet Union and the highest-grossing foreign film. This musical revisits some of the most memorable moments from the film including its whistle-worthy dialogues and soundtrack which went Platinum in India and received a Gold Award in China.

It Re-Imagines An Iconic Musical Score

The musical features the late Bappi Lahiri's chartbuster tracks including hits like, 'Goron Ki Na Kalon Ki..', 'Yaad Aa Raha Hai', 'Jimmy Jimmy' and the epic title track “Disco Dancer”. These songs were composed originally by Bappi Lahiri and written by Anjaan and Faruk Kaiser have been reimagined by popular music director duo Salim Sulaiman. The music received an uproarious response at the premiere and shows in the UK where audiences danced in the aisles and turned the live show into a party!

It Is A Perfect Family Entertainer

A wholesome entertainer that checks all the boxes is perfect for an evening out with the family. 'Disco Dance-The Musical' is after all a cross-generational story that still makes the young and the young at heart dance, sing and even shed a tear or two. Packed with tunes that grow younger with time, an aspirational plot that resonates with everyone, and emotions that are universal, this is a treat best savoured with all your loved ones. It is indeed a dance party that even your parents are invited to. What's more, it will recreate the quirky fashion, dance, and entertainment trends of the 80s. The two-hour-long musical is a complete package of pure entertainment!

Recreates The Final Face-Off Between Jimmy And Sam!

Who can forget Disco Dancer's dance-off between Mithun Chakraborty's Jimmy and Karan Razdan's Sam? 'Disco Dancer-The Musical' recreates that epic showdown beat by beat and brings back the magic of 'Yaad Aa Raha Hai' which ends Jimmy's Citharaphobia or the fear of guitars, crowns him as the disco king once again and leads to the ultimate defeat of Sam. The sequence is also made memorable by the reappearance of Master Raju, Jimmy's original mentor, and Rita's rendition of 'Jimmy Jimmy'! The Musical is all set to honour the collaborative magic created by Mithun da, Bappi da, and B Subhash on an unprecedented, never-seen-before scale and you must see it to believe it!

Dispels The Notions Of A Traditional Play

'Disco Dancer-The Musical' exemplifies how magical live entertainment can be. To see evergreen hits being performed live on stage will be an experience like no other for the audiences. The production values of the play, its intricate choreography, glittering costumes and gifted cast promise to redefine contemporary theatre. The play unabashedly celebrates India’s pop culture and fondly remembers a cult classic and as Bappi Lahiri's family will vouch, this musical is the perfect tribute to the Disco King who passed away in February last year. It also recalls the matchless charisma of the one and only Mithun da whose action chops, dancing skills, and smouldering good looks made the film such a huge hit globally. The film's dialogues by Rahi Masoom Raza were also very popular and the cameo by superstar Rajesh Khanna is still remembered by fans.

So, go catch your tickets for the last leg of the musical in Mumbai. The show is live at NCSI Dome until April 23.