Chai with Marathi drama's most famous cross-dresser

Here's why you should be heading to Prithvi Theatre this Sunday for cutting chai with Marathi theatre stalwarts Satish Alekar and Mahesh Elkunchwar

Here's why you should be heading to Prithvi Theatre this Sunday for cutting chai with Marathi theatre stalwarts Satish Alekar andu00a0 Mahesh Elkunchwar

With a play about a man trapped in a woman's desire, unfulfilled, pining for a vanished era, and several more that pushed the boundaries of regional Indian theatre in the 1970s and 80s, Satish Alekar and Mahesh Elkunchwar gave Marathi theatre audiences complex characters they loved or loved to hate. Now that their translated works are ready to be released in a comprehensive book, it's occasion for a day-long affair where English and Marathi theatrewallahs will come together for dramatised readings and short performances this Sunday morning.

Chandrakant Kale as Begum Barve

Way back in the 1980s, veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah, Mohan Agashe and the late Mohan Gokhale lit up the stage as they brought the works of these two playwrights to life in productions directed by Satyadev Dubey and Vijaya Mehta. The Sunday event at Prithvi Theatre hopes to share some of that magic with the GenNext audience. "A play is not complete till it's performed on stage, which is why we didn't want to follow the regular book release format. Since the books carry English translations of their Marathi plays, we thought readings and performances in both languages would be a good idea," says Irawati Karnik, programme co-ordinator.

It's set to be a typical theatre-lover's morning, beginning with chai and biscuits. Select scenes from Begum Barve, Mahapoor and Sonata will be enacted in Marathi, and each performance will be followed by a dramatised English reading of the same scenes. Alekar and Elkunchwar will be around to interact with audiences. The performances also include a sneak peak into Garbo, Pune-based group Aasakta's latest production written by Elkunchwar, and directed by Dr Sreeram Lagoo in 1973. The play is about a group of young people who want to defy existing norms and live life as non-conformists. Garbo makes a comeback after 35 years, it's edited and made contemporary.

The Collected Plays of Satish Alekar and The Collected Plays of Mahesh Elkunchwar include works that represent key phases in their life. Over the years, the two playwrights have largely represented the angst of educated Maharastrians torn between tradition and their rapidly urbanised surroundings. Their works have been translated and performed in several regional languages, and at various theatre festivals abroad.

At: Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu. Call: 26149546

The day's schedule

10.30 am: The morning begins with chai and biscuits 11 am: Sonata, directed by Sandesh Kulkarni (Samanvay, Pune) 11.20 am: English reading of Sonata, directed by Anand Tiwari 11.30 am: Garbo directed by Mohit Takalkar (Aasakta, Pune) 11.50 am: English reading of Garbo, directed by Quasar Padamsee (Q Prod) 12 noon: Iravati Karnik welcomes Mahesh Elkunchwar 12.20 pm: Begum Barve directed by Satish Alekar (Theatre Academy, Pune) 12.35 pm: English reading of Begum Barve, by Uttkarsh Majumdar 12.45 pm: Mahapoor directed by Aniruddha Khutwad (Kalakendra, Pune) 1.10 pm: English reading of Mahapoor, directed by Jaimini Pathak 1.20 pm: Satish Manwar welcomes Satish Alekar 1.40 pm: Book release function

Begum Barve and Maharnirvan are two of the best Indian plays to have been penned. Alekar is a brilliant combination of Ortonesque farce and the joie de vivre of tamasha, with a profound insight into Pune provincialism. - Ramu Ramanathan Actor-director