Celebrated Bollywood writer and lyricist Prasoon Joshi is making headlines with his latest endeavor, a grand musical play titled ‘Rajadhiraj: Love, Life, Leela,’ which delves into the life of Lord Krishna. This mesmerizing production is currently being showcased at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai, running daily until September 1st. Prasoon, known for his thought-provoking work in films like ‘Rang De Basanti,’ ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,’ and ‘Taare Zameen Par,’ shares how this project has impacted his life in profound ways.
When discussing what drew him to write ‘Rajadhiraj: Love, Life, Leela,’ Prasoon reveals that his creative process is driven by a desire to explore new dimensions with each project. “Whenever I take on a project, I strive to learn something new,” he explains. “Being from Uttarakhand, spirituality is in our blood. I always knew about Lord Krishna, but I never imagined that I would get the chance to write about him. So, when the producers, Dhanraj Nathwani and Bhoomi Nathwani—who are devoted Krishna followers—approached me, it felt like a divine calling.”
The Challenges of Portraying Krishna’s Vast Persona
Creating a play centered around a figure as complex and revered as Lord Krishna is no small feat. Prasoon shares the challenges he faced during the writing process. “Krishna’s persona is so vast that it was difficult to decide which aspects to focus on,” he says. “As I began to study his life and speak with scholars, I realized that people see Krishna in many different forms—Braj saw him as a mischievous child, Radha saw him as a lover, and during the Dwapara Yuga, people saw him as a guide and king. With this in mind, I started writing about Krishna’s life from a holistic perspective, beginning with his childhood.”
One of the unique aspects of this play is that Prasoon has written both the script and the songs. This allowed him to weave the narrative and music together seamlessly. “Whenever I felt the story was getting too long, I would write a song to express the emotions and move the story forward,” he shares.
Krishna as a Guide: Prasoon Joshi’s Personal Vision
For Prasoon, working on ‘Rajadhiraj: Love, Life, Leela’ was more than just another creative project; it was a spiritual journey. When asked how he personally envisions Krishna, Prasoon reflects, “I see Krishna in a philosophical light. This project has given me so much. It felt as though Krishna was guiding me, holding my hand, and showing me the path of life. It’s a reminder that whatever task is given to you by the divine, you should fulfill it with dedication.”
Prasoon’s interpretation of Krishna as a philosophical guide reflects the deeper connection he developed with the deity through this project. His work on ‘Rajadhiraj’ seems to have enriched his own life philosophy, offering him new insights and a sense of purpose.
As ‘Rajadhiraj: Love, Life, Leela’ continues to captivate audiences, it’s clear that Prasoon Joshi’s portrayal of Lord Krishna goes beyond mere storytelling. It’s an exploration of spirituality, responsibility, and the many facets of one of India’s most beloved deities. This project not only showcases Prasoon’s talent as a writer and lyricist but also his ability to connect with deeper, philosophical themes that resonate with people from all walks of life.
