MUMBAI: For anyone who has grown up in the 90s and has tuned into pop music, is unlikely to not be familiar with Suneeta Rao. The voice behind Pari Hoon Main has been a voice to many other independent hits and movie songs too. And now, the diva is back after 18 years, but as a theatre actor with a play called Gaa Re Maa. Gaa Re Maa is comedy play starring some of the best talents in the industry. Directed by Anahita Uberoi and produced by Ishita Arun. It's not musical but the story revolves around music.
“I have had a great time working for Gaa Re Maa, especially, with the amazing co-stars and production team. Gaa Re Maa is a hilarious take on human emotions,” said Suneeta Rao, one of the first pop divas in India.
A comical war of musical aspirations, personal tragedy, and familial angst, the play is a quirky tale of two women and their sons trying to find harmony in their lives, with a series of bizarre encounters, hilarious misunderstandings, heartfelt confessions, and unexpected musical collaborations, Gaa Re Maa with a warm reaction, wherever they have performed till now.
Sunita shares her experience working in theatre, “My main experience has been in music. However, I have done few plays in the past and completely enjoy this challenge. There is nothing better than experiencing artistes’ work in flesh and blood. Therefore, the influx of digital platforms can Netflix can never take away the magic of theatre.”
The play is about interpersonal relationships between two mothers and their respective sons. “The mother-child connection is beautiful and still unexplored. Gaa Re Maa is doing it beautifully.”
Suneeta is co-starring with theatre veteran Bharati Achrekar, who plays the other mother and is a Hindustani Classical singer. Co-incidentally Bharati Achrekar’s mother is a legendary Hindustani Classical singer, Manik Varma. Suneeta is happy for this coincidence, “My mother too has been a singer and had many records in her prime. Therefore, I and Bharati tai had to share, as I appreciate Hindustani Classical music and have been a fan of her mother’s music.”
The play stars Bharati Achrekar, Suneeta Rao, Aseem Hattangady, Ruturaj Shinde, Danny Sura and Zayn Khan and the music is composed by Dhruv Ghanekar. The play will be staged on 12 Jan at Sophia Bhabha Auditorium and 13 Jan 2019 at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir.