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Chai with Marathi drama's most famous cross-dresser

Updated on: 28 March,2009 10:19 AM IST  | 
Aditi Sharma |

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

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 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.


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.




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

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