Marathi Drama - Don Special (दोन स्पेशल)

This is very new two act marathi play being enacted in various theaters in Maharashtra. The director of this play is Kshitaj Patwardhan and the main cast is Jitendra Joshi and Girija Oak Godbole. Well,  there are If I remember correctly three or 4 more actors in very small rolls, with one of them having significant impact in the story but the drama rides on the able shoulders of Jitendra Joshi and Girija Oak.

Add to that a very common looking set of a office which is modified twice, slightly, to make that part of the set look like a different location. Add further a story set about 30 years ago, of two co-workers turned lovers who meet after ten years of separation in strange circumstances. both have a specific but counter objective, one by way of his profession and the other by way of her job. While trying to stick to their position and morality their lost 10 years unfold between them and the misgivings get settled as the drama flows on stage.

Did the specific objectives that they had (and that ran counter to the other's objective) get fulfilled? If yes how did that happen (counter objectives getting fulfilled!) and if not what happened to the end of the drama. It is a good mystic question.

To get the answer to the question, I would request the readers to go and watch the drama.

As for the quality, see for yourself, both the main protagonists delivering long winding, emotional dialogues flawlessly and to the perfection. Both are accomplished actors and they prove it yet again. Their acting makes this drama watchable irrespective of the story which is good anyway. It is also very soothing to hear Girija Oak's beautiful voice which adds beauty to the drama.

The story is good but lags at some places. The acting by both lead actors and Rohit Haldenkar (acted as Umesh Bhosale, a very small but impactful roll) is powerful, emotional and likable. My recommendation - GO FOR IT.

Marathi Drama (Natak) 'Proposal'

As  part of Maharashtra Utsav (Ganesh Utsav as called in Delhi but with a difference that the programmes held thereafter in various months also become part of it) celebrated in Delhi, we were fortunate to see a very good Natak (Drama), named Proposal on 06th Sep 14.

It had many unique things in it, starting from its set. It is a two act play but the whole play is enacted in a Mumbai Local Coach (that too supposedly last local of the day from somewhere (may be Mumbai CST) to Kalyan. So one can imagine how innovative the set is.

The story revolves around Just four characters, two main ones and two support ones. The main protagonists are a young man of say 22, very naive and simple (so it looks) and a Street Walker young girl, again pretending to be street smart but a small girl lurking beneath her Street Walker exterior.

From this point one it is a journey of fun, light hearted banter, emotions and a bond between them caused by common rural background. How ever this act culminates in arrest of the girl (not for Street Walking) by the boy (who is a Police Constable) for an accidental death of a ruffian during a fistfight with the girl (while the boy was asleep).

The second act is the hallmark of the play and for maintaining the sanctity of the story line I would not talk about it. I would say that the quality of the whole story line is similar to the famous Hindi short story by Pandit Chandradutt Sharma Guleri called Usane Kaha Tha". Those who know this hindi story would know what intense level of storyline I am talking about.

The acting by Aditi Sarangdhar as the lead female role Radha and by Astad Kale in the leading Male role of Nivruti Krushna Pawar  is the one that adds fragrance to the story line. Among these two, Aditi stands out primarily because her role has emotions as its second name and she bring them out in a unbelievably superb manner with her very high standard of acting. Astad kale also does full justice to his act.

You don't believe in my statement? Please watch the play and then tell me how right I was. Happy Viewing.

Marathi Nataks (Dramas)

After many years I got the opportunity to see Marathi Nataks at Mumbai, courtsey Dept of Culture, Govt of Maharashtra.

It was the Finals of 25th Marathi Commercial (and not amateur) Drama Competition being conducted at Marathi Sahitya Sangha Mandir at Girgaum by the Dept of Culture, Govt of Maharashtra. There were a total of 10 dramas selected from about 25 entries of variety of Drama Companies. I could See Love Birds, Karun Gelo Gaon, Sukhanshi Bhandato Amhi and Mi Revati Deshpande.

It was real fun  watching such quality dramas produced by these companies. The situation dead that I write the researched views about them but have no time to do research.

Let me put my quick thoughts about these dramas.

Love Birds - a thriller which holds you spell bound. the plot is superb. The struggle of Amruta Subash, the lead actress, to (so called) educate her husband (who has lost his past memories in an accident, but can remember what is taught) about his past life. One sympathises with her, the drama goes on with realisation that the hero and heroine might have killed old lover of the leading lady. As the plot unfolds, the heroine also committees one more murder. Every thing was to go as planed (for whom, guess it or see the Natak, I am not going to let the cat out) but for a private detective who has joined this plot out of sheer luck (or may be bad luck).

What comes out at the end is a action packed (emotional and not stunts) thriller which keeps you glued to your seat). The Music was good, the use of video to link up the events outside of the set, crisp dialogue delivery and acting of all the people are the strong points.

Karun Gelo Gaon - Is a marathi - Malvani (or so I thought) comedy with all the actors being natural and good. Vaibhav Mangale happens to be the pack leader. The drama had slapstick humour with all the ingredients thrown in like a tamasha dancer, a local MLA, film crazy villagers etc. There were some sutle but below the belt humour, some high quality humour and some very vital points made humorously. At the end the drama succeeds in highlighting the plight of the soul of Konkan, the land on the west coast.

Sukhanshi Bhandato Aamhi  - is a serious drama with a lead role of a psychologist and a split personality patient. the doctor, an idealist as a Young boy from village has become materialistic due to pressures of his ambitious wife and the city called Mumbai. He is minting money and thinking that it is essential for him to mint to provide better avenues to his son.

He has been neglecting his mother who is still at his village, neglecting other aspects of life till this patient whom he admits in his hospital show him a mirror to make him understand that the mirage that he is running behind in his life is not happiness but rather a fight with real happiness. The doctor tries to run away from reality till his son decides to seek his Happiness!!! by leaving the doctor and his wife behind and migrating abroad. A very powerful story delivered superbly.

Mi, Revati Deshpande is a off beat drama. It is about gender disorder in a professor who has been living duel life of a lady and a man. his family always thinks very poorly of him because they think he seeks company of females to satisfy his male ego / taste without realisation of the reality. Only his female servant and psychologist  friend who knew reality try to manage the rift. The rift widens by the additional affection shown by the professor to his erstwhile student and now his daughter in law, who is pregnant.

The rift reaches a stage where all efforts of the psychologist fried and the servant fail and the professor decides to let go of the male in him and decides to live life as a female.

a complex subject handled skillfully with lead roles of Mohan Joshi as professor, Ramesh Bhatkar as doctor friend. It was well enacted drama except for where I got the seat (in the balcony) the audio was very poor.

A very unconventional story delivered with care and elan.