From Broadway to Bollywood

In December, Shriya Saran had told mid-day that her next, Music School, included three songs from The Sound of Music (When Do re mi becomes sa re ga, Dec 13). First-time director Paparao Biyyala says that when he was conceptualising the drama, starring Sharman Joshi, Saran and Prakash Raj, he was looking for a fitting musical to draw inspiration from. He found his answer in the famed 1959 Broadway musical, and acquired the rights to the play*s music.

Biyyala

“I watch a lot of musicals when I am in London or New York. I felt that The Sound of Music is one of the most loved musicals of all times, and caters to our main demographic – the kids. So, I have interwoven its three songs in Music School, aptly modifying them to suit the sensibilities of the Indian audience,” Biyyala shares.

Ilaiyaraaja, who has composed the film*s album, also recreated The Sound of Music songs – Do re mi, So long farewell, and Sixteen going on seventeen. The director says, “As we drew inspiration for our music from the legendary Broadway play, it involved a huge risk. I was scared of making the wrong choice. However, Ilaiyaraaja made the process simpler with his brilliance and experience.” In 1965, the Broadway musical was adapted into the Julie Andrews-led film of the same name.

Also Read: Shriya Saran: *To use the songs in our film after 57 years is a privilege*