LILLETTE TO REMAKE ICONIC SONGS OF DEVIKA RANI
For her upcoming play, the theatre director is all set to recreate some of Devika Rani’s iconic songs with a contemporary touch
Known for having directed super successful plays such as Salaam Noni Appa, Gauhar and Kanyadaan, Lillette Dubey is one of the most repected theatre personalities in the country. As she readies to bring live on stage the life of Devika Rani, she says music will play an important role in it. Lillette will be recreating some of the Devika Rani’s most iconic songs such as Achhut Kannya, Matwale Naino Wali, and Bichadgaye Toh Holi Ki Aayi Bahaar,
among others. One of the songs which was sung by Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar will be reprised by Lillette’s daughter, Ira Dubey. y “Devika Rani was known for her love for acting and her signature songs that catapulted her to stardom and united the nation in their love for music and films. It’s an important part of who she was, and we want to give it the significance it deserves. We’ve picked out some of her songs and will render newer versions of them in the play. Music always helps to deliver the nuances of a storyline with better clarity and I hope we can do justice to her story,” says Lillette.
However, the director emphasises on the fact that this play will not be a musical; instead, it is a dramatic play. “Music is going to be an important aspect of this play, but the soundtrack will be used more as a background to the play,” she adds.
In a time when women are trying to reclaim spaces and fighting for equality, it only seems fair that Lillette has chosen the life story of the First Lady of Cinema to be told on stage. But Lillette says that it is not a conscious decision to only make plays based on strong women. She says, “I don’t plan on bringing out women-driven stories, but somehow, over the years, I have been unconsciously driven towards stories with female protagonists. And I do find the struggles of women in different eras and different socio-cultural scenarios very worthwhile to explore. Unfortunately, there are many similarities with the struggles of women in this era as well.”
The play will tell the story of twenty years of Devika Rani’s life, revealing the real Devika behind the reel one until she finally left it all at 37, to live in Manali, (Himachal Pradesh) with the love of her life, Svetsolav Roerich, a Russian painter.