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The Saturday play THE ROYAL VISIT (R4, 1500, 4 Jun 22), by Ayeesha Menon, was set in Kalina, a Bombay (Mumbai) suburb. The villagers are told that a royal couple will be paying a visit. Jackie, from the Parish Committee, is given the job of planning a big welcome. Shailesh sets up the snack table, and history professor Colin, who is teaching students about British colonialism, is appointed to find a suitable student to present a mango to the Royals. An apt time (Platinum Jubilee weekend) for a play about royals. The production was from well-known Indie company Goldhawk, with production by Nadir Khan assisted by Toral Shah.
6 Mar 2021: The Jungle Book, 1
By Ayeesha Menon. Rudyard Kipling’s family classic, re-imagined in the concrete jungle of present-day India. Mowgli, the orphan boy at the centre of the story, is being brought up by the Wolves, a gang of petty criminals in a tenement block in Mumbai, and quickly learns how to survive in that world. But when the villainous politician, Tiger Khan, threatens Mowgli's life, two residents of the tenement block, "black panther" Bagheera and the "bear" Baloo, offer to help him escape and he embarks on a journey of self-discovery through the city, meeting "creatures" along the way who don't always have his best interests at heart. Recorded in India.
Mo - Namit Das,
Tiger Khan - Rajit Kapur,
Mrs Gupta - Shernaz Patel,
Mr Gupta- Zafar Karachiwala,
Bugs - Sukant Goel,
Yuva- Abir Abrar,
Kala- Shikha Talsania,
Rikita- Devika Shahani,
Father Carvalho - Sohrab Ardeshir,
Young Kala/Rani- Preetika Chawla,
Young Mo - Omkar Kulkarni,
Dimple - Trisha Kale,
Bobby - Alka Sharma,
Varun/Boy - Ajitesh Gupta,
Amma - Prerna Chawla,
Raksha- Shivani Tanksale,
Rafiq & Naag- Tavish Bhattacharyya,
Baldeo/Tabaqui/Purun Bhagat- Vivek Madan,
Akhil - Nadir Khan.
Written and directed by Ayeesha Menon.
Producer: Nadir Khan.
Executive Producer: John Scott Dryden.
Indie (Goldhawk).
13 Mar 21: Saturday Play - The Jungle Book, 2
Kipling, set in present-day India by Ayeesha Menon, continued.
Mowgli is being brought up by the Wolves, a gang of petty criminals in a tenement block in Mumbai, and quickly learns how to survive in that world. But when the villainous politician, Tiger Khan, threatens Mowgli's life, two residents of the tenement block offer to help him escape. Some of the creatures he meets on the way don't have his best interests at heart. Recorded in India.
14 Jan 19: Into the Maze, 1
By Ayeesha Menon. Thriller set in London, Riyadh and Mumbai, exploring problems faced by women when it comes to sexual assault and personal freedom. Hotel worker Saira is raped by a rich Saudi guest. It throws her life, and that of her sister, into chaos. Jamila: Maya Sondhi, Saira: Aysha Kala, Najma: Fatima Adoum, Majid: Silas Carson, Zafar: Amir El-Masry, Purab: Ronny Jhutti, Clare: Clare Corbett, Sharon: Jeanette Percival, Andy: Lewis Bray, Ms. Morgan: Carolyn Pickles, John McKinley: Tony Turner, DC Price: Alexandra Constantinidi, Officer Megan: Lucy Doyle, Barfly: Christopher Harper, Fisher: Waleed Elgadi, Wheeler: Sam Dale, Jamila's boss: Waleed Elgadi, Guide: Ronny Jhutti, Judge: Sam Dale, Colleague: Christopher Harper. Producer: Emma Harding. Research consultant: David Rhodes, Doughty Street Chambers.
15 Jan 19: Into the Maze, 2
Jamila decides to use her vlog to bring her sister's rapist to justice, but someone wants to silence her.
16 Jan 19: Into the Maze, 3
Conclusion. Clare confronts Najma about the true identity of Saira's rapist. Production details: see 14 Jan.
MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN....2018
Best Adaptation at the Audio Drama Awards 2018 was won by "Midnight’s Children" by Salman Rushdie, ad. Ayeesha Menon, produced by Emma Harding and Tracey Neale. This went out twice; the first broadcast was 70 years (to the minute) after the Partition of India. Nikesh Patel won Best Actor for playing the lead. The sound design was also commended (Peter Ringrose, with Anne Bunting and Jenni Burnett). The production was by BBC Radio Drama London.
The award for "Outstanding Contribution to Drama" was also won by "Midnight's Children", and the whole production team was called to the stage to receive it: Ayesha Menon, who adapted it for radio, with Emma Harding and Tracey Neale, 27 actors, sound designer and SMs Peter Ringrose, Anne Bunting and Jenni Burnett and production coordinators Maggie Olgiati and Jenny Mendez. It was an outstanding piece of radio drama in every way. (....ND, Diversity Website review, April 2018)
Salman Rushdie's novel MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, dramatised by Ayeesha Menon, was produced by the BBC as a one-day epic broadcast in seven parts throughout the day (R4, 15 Aug 2017) and subsequently repeated a few weeks later as a Classic Serial on Sunday afternoons. The story centres around Saleem, played by Nikesh Patel, born at midnight on 15 Aug 1947, the exact moment of the Partition of India. Partition was to have a profound influence on his life. Fatima Hasan, writing in RT, describes the story as witty, savage, tender and magical. The first episode describes an extraordinary scene in which a doctor has to examine a female patient through a hole in a blanket. This must be based on fact; you couldn't make it up. There are other peculiar and absurd occurrences throughout the narrative; it is strange but compulsive listening. The drama was produced by Tracey Neale and Emma Harding. (....ND, Diversity Website review, Sep 2017)
18 Aug 15: Undercover Mumbai
By Ayeesha Menon, recorded on location in India, from Indie producer Goldhawk. Disgraced cop Alia Khan is released from prison and looks for work at a run-down Mumbai hotel, but murder follows her to her new place of work. Part 1 of 2. Conclusion tomorrow. Alia: Prerna Chawla, Ratna: Shivani Tanksale, Jamal: Kenny Desai, Yamraj: Abhey Mahajan, Meenakshi: Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, Faisal: Prashant Prakash, Bala: Prabal Panjabi, Mrs. Gomes: Radhika Mital, Snr. Insp Desai: Rajit Kapur, with Joy Sengupta, Sohrab Ardeshir, Adhir Bhat, Satchit Puranik, Neil Bhoopalam, Preetika Chawla, Nadir Khan and Vivek Madan. Produced by Nadir Khan; directed by John Dryden.
19 Aug 15: Undercover Mumbai
By Ayeesha Menon, conclusion. Details: see yesterday.
14 Sept 13: Saturday Drama - Undercover Mumbai
By Ayeesha Menon. I'm trying to work out why RT says "6/6" for this play; I am not aware of it being part of a series. It's an Indian detective story, set in Bombay (Mumbai) and recorded there using Indian actors. As the general elections get closer, a murder and a political scandal lead Alia into an investigation about the death of her policeman father. Alia - Prerna Chawla, Nakul - Anand Tiwari, Insp. Desai - Rajit Kapur, Mrs. Gomes - Radhika Mittal, Popo - Rohit Malkani, Alia's father - Zafar Karachiwala, Vikram - Darius Shroff, Cmmr. Kripalani - Jayant Kripalani. Supporting cast - Karan Pandit, Faezeh Jalali, Anahita Oberoi, Devika Shahani-Punjabi, Sohrab Ardeshir, Kenny Desai, Nadir Khan, Vivek Madan, Ayeesha Menon and Ankur Vikal. Producer Nadir Khan; producer John Dryden. Indie (Goldhawk Essential). These Goldhawk productions are well-known for their realism.
I've worked it out - it must be linked to the five-part serial listed immediately below....
9 Sep 13: 15 Minute Drama - Undercover Mumbai 2: Gutter Baby
By Ayeesha Menon.
Police detective serial set and recorded on location in Mumbai.
When a baby is rescued from a gutter, it falls on the only female police officer on hand, Alia Khan, to look after it. Stuck with a new partner and a boss who is determined to put her in her place, Alia has to fight to be noticed.
Continuing throughout this week and culminating in an hour-long Saturday drama, this fast-paced, six-part police thriller follows Alia Khan, a young woman inspector in the Bandra Division of the Mumbai Police Force, as she attempts to solve a series of crimes, make sense of her troubled past and cope with being a woman in a male-dominated and chauvinistic police force.
Alia - Prerna Chawla; Nakul - Anand Tiwari; Inspector Desai - Rajit Kapur; Mrs Gomes - Radhika Mittal; Popo - Rohit Malkani; Alia's Father - Zafar Karachiwala; Vikram Naresh - Darius Shroff; Commissioner Kripalani - Jayant Kripalani; Actor - Karan Pandit ; Actor - Faezeh Jalali ; Actor - Anahita Oberoi ; Actor - Devika Shahani-Punjabi ; Actor - Sohrab Ardeshir ; Actor - Kenny Desai ; Actor - Nadir Khan ; Actor - Vivek Madan ; Actor - Ayeesha Menon ; Actor - Ankur Vikal ; Director - John Dryden ; Producer - Nadir Khan ; Writer - Ayeesha Menon; Music - Sacha Putnam.; Sound Recordist - Hitesh Chaurasia; Sound Design - Steve Bond; Editing Assistants - Andrew Lewis and Aditya Khanna.; Script Editor - Mike Walker; Assistant Producer - Toral Shah.
Indie (Goldhawk).
10 Sep 13: 15 Minute Drama - Undercover Mumbai 2: What's Cooking?
By Ayeesha Menon.
The search for a missing husband leads Police Inspector Alia Khan to the door of the Tandoori restaurant where he was last seen.
Details as Sep 9.
11 Sep 13: 15 Minute Drama - Undercover Mumbai 3: Body of Christ
By Ayeesha Menon.
The body of a young girl is washed up on a beach. A tattoo on her ankle leads police inspector Alia Khan on the trail of a child prostitution ring.
Details as Sep 9.
12 Sep 13: 15 Minute Drama - Undercover Mumbai 4: Mad Women
By Ayeesha Menon.
Police Inspector Alia Khan investigates a psychiatric hospital where women are admitted but never seem to come out.
Details as Sep 9.
13 Sep 13: 15 Minute Drama - Undercover Mumbai 5: Five-Star Death
By Ayeesha Menon.
A dead glamour model in a five-star hotel leads Police inspector Alia Khan on the trail of Bollywood's leading heart-throb.
Details as Sep 9.
15 Jan: Classic Serial - The Mumbai Chuzzlewits, Episode 3
By Ayeesha Menon.Convinced his relatives are after his money, miserly old recluse Martin Chuzzlewit, adopts orphan girl, Mary, to be his carer. As she will inherit nothing upon his death, he believes she will do her utmost to keep him in good health. But when his grandson Mickey falls in love with her, Martin's plans are thrown into disarray. Disinheriting him, Martin triggers a complex web of deceit, betrayal and manipulation as the extended family and hangers-on close in, in pursuit of his fortune. Told from the point of view of orphan Thomas, an observer into the world of the Chuzzlewits, this is a fast-paced drama full of intrigue, romance, suspense and murder...
Cast:
Martin ..... Roshan Seth,
Thomas ..... Karan Pandit,
Mickey ..... Zafar Karachiwala,
Pinto ..... Rajit Kapur,
Mercy ..... Preetika Chawla,
Charity ..... Ayeesha Menon,
Anthony ..... Sohrab Ardeshir,
Joseph ..... Nadir Khan,
Mary ..... Nimrat Kaur,
Mrs. Gomes ..... Radhika Mital,
Louis ..... Rohit Malkani,
Doctor ..... Shernaz Patel,
Monty ..... Arghya Lahiri,
Manek ..... Vivek Madan ,
Young Mickey ..... Zaal Madon,
Young Thomas ..... Nominath Ginsburg.
Sound Recordist: Ayush Ahuja.
Sound Design: David Chilton.
Music: Sacha Puttnam.
Producer and Casting: Nadir Khan.
Producer: John Dryden.
Indie (Goldhawk Essential).
8 Jan 2012: Classic Serial - The Mumbai Chuzzlewits, Episode 2
By Ayeesha Menon.
Cast:
Martin ..... Roshan Seth,
Thomas ..... Karan Pandit,
Mickey ..... Zafar Karachiwala,
Pinto ..... Rajit Kapur,
Mercy ..... Preetika Chawla,
Charity ..... Ayeesha Menon,
Anthony ..... Sohrab Ardeshir,
Joseph ..... Nadir Khan,
Mary ..... Nimrat Kaur,
Mrs. Gomes ..... Radhika Mital,
Louis ..... Rohit Malkani,
Doctor ..... Shernaz Patel,
Monty ..... Arghya Lahiri,
Manek ..... Vivek Madan ,
Young Mickey ..... Zaal Madon,
Young Thomas ..... Nominath Ginsburg.
Sound Recordist: Ayush Ahuja.
Sound Design: David Chilton.
Music: Sacha Puttnam.
Producer and Casting: Nadir Khan.
Producer: John Dryden. Indie. (Goldhawk Essential).
1 Jan 2012: Classic Serial - The Mumbai Chuzzlewits, Episode 1
By Ayeesha Menon.Reworking of Charles Dickens' 'Martin Chuzzlewit', set amongst the Catholic community in modern-day Mumbai (Bombay), India. Convinced his relatives are after his money, miserly old recluse Martin Chuzzlewit adopts an orphan girl, Mary, to be his carer. As she will inherit nothing upon his death, he believes she will do her utmost to keep him in good health. But when his grandson Mickey falls in love with her, Martin's plans are thrown into disarray. Disinheriting him, Martin triggers a complex web of deceit, betrayal and manipulation as the extended family and hangers-on close in, in pursuit of his fortune. The story is told from the point of view of an orphan, Thomas.
Cast:
Martin ..... Roshan Seth,
Thomas ..... Karan Pandit,
Mickey ..... Zafar Karachiwala,
Pinto ..... Rajit Kapur,
Mercy ..... Preetika Chawla,
Charity ..... Ayeesha Menon,
Anthony ..... Sohrab Ardeshir,
Joseph ..... Nadir Khan,
Mary ..... Nimrat Kaur,
Mrs. Gomes ..... Radhika Mital,
Louis ..... Rohit Malkani,
Doctor ..... Shernaz Patel,
Monty ..... Arghya Lahiri,
Manek ..... Vivek Madan,
Young Mickey ..... Zaal Madon,
Young Thomas ..... Nominath Ginsburg.
Sound Recordist: Ayush Ahuja.
Sound Design: David Chilton.
Music: Sacha Puttnam.
Producer and Casting: Nadir Khan.
Producer: John Dryden. Indie (Goldhawk Essential).
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