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The lavish Broadway-inspired musical Kaneez made a spectacular Mumbai debut this weekend at the NCPA’s prestigious Jamshed Bhabha Auditorium, NCPA earning overwhelming audience appreciation. Directed by veteran theater creator Randhir Ranjan Roy, the production drew more than 3,000 attendees across its nearly sold-out shows on the 28th and 29th of November 2025. The premiere attracted not only enthusiastic theatergoers but also an illustrious guest list from the film, television, and theater fraternity, including Shekhar Suman, Sudha Chandran, Nyra Banerjee, Jannat Zubair, Mita Vashisht, and Abhishek Nigam, among many other prominent personalities.
From the opening scene to the final curtain call, Kaneez held audiences completely captivated by its emotional depth, visual grandeur, and immersive live music. Spontaneous applause, gasps during powerful dialogues and thunderous ovations after musical sequences created an electrifying atmosphere inside the auditorium. Performances by Siddharth Nigam, Gulki Joshi, Kirti Killedar, Jaya Bhattacharya, Sanjay Swaraj, Noyrika Bhatheja, Sunitt Razzdan, Amit Ghosh, Dev Surana, Hardik Thakkar, Vikas Tiwari, and Kalyan Choudhary drew exceptional praise for their commanding presence.
Visually and musically, the production delivered a breathtaking theatrical experience. Opulent sets, atmospheric lighting, and refined stagecraft by Chetan Chand transported audiences into a meticulously crafted world. The live score, composed by Rahul–Anjan, blended bhajans, thumris, and retro-classical fusion with striking emotional impact, while Arunima Roy’s choreography infused the movement with elegance and narrative intensity.
The premiere evening also saw glowing appreciation from industry veterans. Shekhar Suman described the production as “an enthralling theatrical experience” that held his attention from start to finish. Sudha Chandran praised its music, plot, and deeply felt emotions, calling it “heart-touching and visually stunning.” Mita Vashisht called the show “richly layered, soulful, and intensely moving,” while Abhishek Nigam described it as “grand, gripping, and beyond expectations.” Keeping it heartfelt, Nyra Banerjee shared that she found the production “absolutely lovely,” praising its visual beauty and emotional connect.
In the hours following the premiere, social media flooded with standing-ovation videos, glowing audience reactions, and rave reviews. Viewers described the musical as “spellbinding, authentic, and profoundly affecting,” and many hailed it as “a Broadway-scale experience on an Indian stage.” A strong testament to the show’s emotional impact is the unprecedented demand for its music composed by Shaan, Papon, Javed Ali, and Kirti Killedar, with viewers tagging the makers daily to request the official soundtrack release.
Buoyed by the thunderous response, the makers have officially announced the next season of Kaneez—The Musical for the 24th and 25th of January 2026, with ticket sales opening this weekend—an early indicator of soaring popularity and growing anticipation. With its soul-stirring performances, poetic storytelling, live orchestral arrangements, and opulent stagecraft, Kaneez has firmly established itself as one of the season’s most celebrated theatrical productions, leaving audiences eager for more. Set in the evocative 1920s, the musical brings to life the poignant love story of courtesan Tanno Bai and priest Dharikshan Tiwari, exploring the delicate tension between spiritual duty and forbidden love in a romance that defies caste and societal boundaries.
