MELBOURNE, 26 July 2025: Manka Bapu, a Hindi musical by Khelaiya Productions, with a vibrant Gujarat flair, captivated audiences at the Drum Theatre in Dandenong today. This adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth—a tragic tale of a Scottish general driven by prophecy and his wife’s ambition to murder King Duncan and seize the throne—delivered a gripping descent into tyranny and madness.
As temperatures dropped outside, the intense Shakespearean narrative inside the Drum Theatre radiated the aura of a tragic masterpiece. The Hindi-Gujarati language and cultural elements added a unique and vibrant layer to the production. The cast, including actors, musicians, dancers, and crew, delivered an unprecedented display of excellence.
Consumed by ambition and spurred by his wife Lilavati Ba (Poulomi Deshpande), Manka Bapu (Amey Sane) murders Raja Digvijay Sinh (Gopal Ganwani) and claims the throne. Plagued by guilt and paranoia, he resorts to increasingly ruthless measures to shield himself from suspicion, spiraling into tyranny.
The murder scene, depicted behind a curtain with shadowy figures and stark red lighting, evoked an eerie sense of moral decay, unchecked ambition, and lust for power.
Later, the spectral appearance of Raja Digvijay Sinh’s ghost—visible only to Manka Bapu—during a celebratory feast unravels the protagonist’s psyche, symbolizing his guilty conscience.
The tragedy culminates with Manka Bapu’s death in combat and the restoration of the rightful heir as Raja, a resolution that echoes Macbeth’s timeless themes while resonating with modern forms of ambition and power.
Directed by Harsiddhi Mody, Manka Bapu is more than a Hindi adaptation of Macbeth. It weaves a rich tapestry of Gujarati culture through vibrant music, songs, dances, and traditional costumes, while preserving the essence of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
This production’s success owes much to Mody’s able direction and the cohesive efforts of the Manka Bapu team. The play invites reflection, reminiscent of German dramatist Bertolt Brecht’s approach, urging audiences to think critically and recognize the theatrical illusion before them.
