Diwali Pahat, Marathi folk style

A scene from Marathi Bana

Director-performer Ashok Hande is in the middle of rehearsals when we call him to chat about his magnum opus Marathi Bana (Marathi Pride). Having started performing professionally on stage in 1987, Hande has directed productions like Mangalgani Dangalgani in Marathi, and Awaz Ki Duniya and Azadi 50 in Hindi. His show Marathi Bana, to be performed this weekend, will complete its 1800th performance.

Ashok Hande (centre) with the cast

"I had seen the Michael Jackson show in Mumbai. I have always wanted to do something as large scale as that and our rich Folk culture lends greatly to a spectacle," says Hande. "When I did my first show of Mangalgani Dangalgani, which featured the history of Maharashtra of over 700 years, with my group Chaurang, it was for Pune-based corporator Satish Desai, who wanted us to perform in the city to showcase Marathi culture. Since no auditoriums were available that evening, we did a show at 6 am. Everyone laughed at us initially, but the show ran houseful. This time too we will perform early morning," he adds.

The two-and-a-half-hour long production presents bhajans, kirtans, bharud, comedy, dance, music and a message. The show will feature over 50 songs that are a mix of classic, Folk and newly-composed numbers. The elaborate set is a reconstruction of rural Maharashtra. "The current generation has no idea about rural life. We have so many rituals that are forgotten in the hustle-bustle of city life. The idea is to educate and entertain them," says Hande.

When we quiz him on the research for the script, he promptly tells us that he knew what he wanted like the back of his hand. "I have lived that life that I am portraying on stage. I still farm in my village where I spent my childhood.

When we moved to the city, I lived in a mill workers' basti in Chinchpokli. I broke the handi for Janmashtami, sang kirtans on Ganesh Chaturthi and danced at the visarjan too. This nurtured me. My father was a mango merchant and I visited the Konkan with him often. As part of the National Service Scheme in college, I also travelled to the adivasi settlements near Pandharpur," says the 57-year-old director, before excusing himself to instruct one of the actors on stage. (When he returns on the phone line, he begins to sing Ab tumhare hawale watan sathiyon softly, laced with a thick Marathi accent.)

"The material was all ready in my head from my experiences of different cultures and communities of Maharashtra. We have performed in parts of India apart from America, UK, Dubai. The idea is take the show to every place that has Marathi-speaking people, though a non-Marathi speaking audience can enjoy it too," he sums up.

On: October 30, 6.30 am
At: Dinanath Mangeshkar Natya Griha Hall, Vile Parle (E).
On: October 31, 11 am
At: Prabodhankar Thackeray auditorium Borivali(W), Borivali (W).
Cost: Rs 400 to Rs 500