The musical, Mughal-e-Azam, is set for its Doha premiere in December with its “scale, design and splendour”.
After “enthralling packed audiences across India and abroad”, the musical will now be showcased at Al Mayassa Theatre, Qatar National Convention Centre, with three shows from December 19- 21, according to a press statement.
“The musical, which swept the BroadwayWorld Awards last year, including the Best Indian Play and Best Director, has set a new benchmark for Indian theatre. Be it the extravagant sets or the Mughal-era costumes by Manish Malhotra, the breathtaking choreography by Mayuri Upadhya or the live singing by the lead actors, Mughal-e-Azam  — the musical is a fitting tribute to K Asif’s timeless epic,” the statement notes.
The stage production is a homage to Asif’s classic movie, whose dialogues, music and songs are part of the cultural memories of many generations. The director, Feroz Abbas Khan, has weaved together a “rich, colourful tapestry of ideas that touches upon class wars and love in the face of rebellion”. It pits an uncompromising father at loggerheads with his beloved son, in a painful personal dilemma.
Mughal-e-Azam ‘follows the story of the Mughal Prince, Salim, who openly declares his love for a court dancer named Anarkali and leads a rebellion against his mighty father, Emperor Akbar, who disapproves of their relationship. The epic film was produced by Shapoorji Pallonji in 1960. More than five decades later,  renowned Indian playwright Khan, known for plays like Mahatma vs Gandhi, Tumhari Amrita, Saalgirah and Dinner with Friends, among others, brings this classic film to stage as a Broadway-style musical.
The musical is mostly faithful to the Asif classic, complete with “lavish sets, exotic costumes, flowery verses, soulful music and brilliantly choreographed dance sequences, all of which are sublimely orchestrated by Khan to create an immersive theatre experience”.
Director Khan said, “I had always wanted to share this great piece of cinema as a theatrical experience. The epic love story of Prince Salim and Anarkali has been told beautifully on celluloid. I have attempted to create a contemporary version of it for live audiences. I am humbled by the appreciation from audiences in India and several international cities. I am excited as we present Mughal-e-Azam in Doha for the first time.”
 Dr Tejinder Singh, CEO and managing director of Q-Tickets Qatar, noted: “Mughal-e-Azam, the grand musical, has earned standing ovations from big crowds and numerous accolades on the international stage. Q-Tickets is proud to bring not just one, not even two, but three Mughal-e-Azam shows for the very first time in Qatar. So, not only the Indian community, but also the entire Qatar audience, will get to enjoy this biggest show that everyone is talking about.”
Deepesh Salgia, creative and strategic vision, Mughal-e-Azam, added: “The phenomenal success of the show recently in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Muscat has confirmed the pan-Asian appeal of the show. With over 170 houseful performances, the show’s popularity is growing with every new venue. Moreover, as  Mughal-e-Azam speaks the language of love, like all immortal love stories, we are sure it will be loved by Doha audiences in equal measure.”
The musical features a cast and crew of more than 350 people, over 200 lights illuminating the stage and 550 costumes designed by Malhotra. The event is brought by Q-Tickets in association with Qatar National Tourism Council.
For more information, one can contact the Q-Tickets call centre at 44069090 or send an e-mail to [email protected]