"Arre yaar. Let’s do it in part 2 now"
Japan has launched the first ever international musical adaption of a Bollywood film for the stage. The production is none other than Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om!
Titled Oomu Shanti Oomu – Koisuru Rinne for Japanese audiences, Farah Khan shared Instagram pictures of the spectacular opening night.
Based on the 2007 hit film which launched the career of Bollywood beauty, Deepika Padukone, the musical features an all-female cast.
Kurenai Yuzuru plays the enthusiastic acting hopeful, Om, while Kisaki Airi stars as the iridescent Shanti Priya. Rei Makoto plays the villainous film producer Mukesh ‘Mike’ Mehra who was originally played by Arjun Rampal.
It is clear from Farah’s enthusiasm and the positive response from many, that Japanese director, Koyanagi Naoko, has truly done justice to the original film.
Farah, who is currently in Japan, has been sharing behind the scenes glimpses on her social media channels. In particular, she Instagrammed the impressive costumes created for the stage production. Yuzuru, who is playing Om, wears an embellished gold and black sequinned jacket.
Farah captions the image: “V should hav made this awesome jacket 4 @iamsrk .. OSO musical dress rehearsal was awesome..japan truly celebrating the film.”
The Japanese musical has received overwhelming support from Bollywood. Deepika Padukone, who played the original lead actress in full 1970s glamour, posted on Twitter: “Love You and miss you @TheFarahKhan !!! #forevergrateful.”
Even music directors Vishal-Shekhar, who were composers on Om Shanti Om, shared their love. They tweeted:
“Beautiful memories Farah! Always grateful to you and @imsrk for believing in us.”
This stage adaptation marks how popular Bollywood is, not only in India but also the rest of Asia. The mix of drama, music and dance makes the film a perfect fit for the stage and is sure to be a success.
Creating a fusion of Bollywood and live theatre, it could even spark a new trend, with other hit films following suit.
With the flurry of social media posts, the musical has had nostalgia levels high. Reminiscing the greatness of the original film Om Shanti Om, many fans have begun to question the potential of a sequel.
Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan also teased fans on Twitter: “Arre yaar. Let’s do it in part 2 now. Last nite kids telling me how much they love OSO.”
Being one of the biggest blockbuster hits in 2007, it may be hard to beat the success that came with Om Shanti Om. With its romantic story line and star-studded cast, the film is undoubtedly still a favourite for many.
But with King Khan’s backing, Om Shanti Om 2 may very well be on the cards!
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