The Next Stage

The colours and chaos of the cult classic film Monsoon Wedding come alive once again in a new musical that premieres next month

- Manoj Jadhav

“Music is in the bones of Monsoon Wedding,” says its director Mira Nair. It’s undeniable. Because years later, when the dialogue and subplots elude you, the songs don’t—whether it’s the beautiful Love and Marigolds theme when Alice and PK Dube share screen time; the Chunari Chunari dance number filmed in an empty swimming pool; or the closing Kawa Kawa sequence that compelled audiences to sit through the end credits. It comes as no surprise then that Monsoon Wedding is finally taking to the stage as a musical at the Berkeley Rep, where it premieres next month.