Shaan: Music of ‘Mahabali’ is designed to evoke deep devotion

Produced by veteran producers Randhir Ranjan Roy and Abhishek Narayan, the mythological musical is set to launch around Dussehra and aims to present the familiar epic through a more emotionally and spiritually focused narrative.

The production places Hanuman at the heart of the story, exploring themes of devotion, loyalty, selfless service and humility. Rather than portraying him solely as a powerful divine warrior, Mahabali looks at the spiritual strength behind his devotion to Lord Rama.

Hanuman, revered as one of the Chiranjivis, or immortal beings, is presented as a figure whose greatness comes not from power or victory, but from his complete surrender and dedication to Lord Rama.

The show's music is being shaped to match its theatrical scale. Shaan described the soundtrack as a combination of devotion and Broadway-style momentum, with each song designed to reflect an emotional stage in Hanuman's journey.

Kailash Kher, who is also contributing to the musical's vocal landscape, said the project required an intense spiritual energy capable of reflecting the cosmic power associated with Hanuman.

The soundtrack incorporates ancient mantras and powerful rhythms, with the intention of creating an immersive experience rather than simply functioning as background music.

The production also brings a fresh dramatic perspective to the familiar conflict of the Ramayana. Arya Babbar plays Ravan and believes that placing his character within a story centred on Hanuman allows the confrontation between the two figures to be explored with renewed intensity.

Aankiet Mohan takes on the title role of Hanuman. The cast also includes Arya Babbar as Ravan, Saanand Verma as Vistarvachie and Pankaj Berry as Kaal Drishti, with Mukul Nag and Aadesh Bharadwaj in supporting roles.

Mohan described playing Hanuman on a live Broadway-style stage as both a major honour and a demanding challenge. He said the production aims to move beyond conventional portrayals by presenting Hanuman's immense physical strength alongside his deep humility.

Producer Randhir Ranjan Roy said the team hopes to take Indian mythological theatre to a global production scale by combining storytelling with advanced stagecraft and audio-visual technology.

The production is designed to bring India's cultural heritage to contemporary audiences while remaining accessible across generations.