Watch a selection of six Marathi experimental plays that explore myriad topics -- from the poetry by women saints, and the angst of a 21-year-old boy to a married couple struggling with their baggage of caste and culture
Watch a selection of six Marathi experimental plays that explore myriad topics -- from the poetry by women saints, and the angst of a 21-year-old boy to a married couple struggling with their baggage of caste and culture 
This weekend, theatre-lovers are totally spoilt for choice. Apart from regular treats at the Prithvi Theatre, roster of plays are scheduled at the Nehru Centre as part of their theatre festival, and NCPA will host a Marathi theatre festival. That's almost 11 different plays at some of the landmark auditoriums in the city.
National Centre of Performing Artsu00a0 (NCPA) has been associated with major Marathi productions over the years, including Zulwa, Atmakatha and Ek Zunj Varyashi. So, when NCPA decided to showcase experimental Marathi plays, the theatre community was all ears. Pratibimb Marathi Natya Utsav is the first initiative by NCPA in this direction, and will be followed by a monthly timetable of Marathi plays and regular drama festivals. Here's a look at what's in store at the festival.
All plays will be performed at Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point. A panel discussion will take place at 5 pm every day at the Experimental Theatre foyer.
Tickets: Rs 100 on the weekend, Rs 75 on weekdays Call: 22824567 / 66548135
Kalakendra's Mahapoor
On: August 11 at 6.30 pm
Duration: 120 minutes
Satish Alekar's Mahapoor is regarded as a classic Marathi play. Various groups have performed the play over the years. It tells a story of protagonist Govind Raghunath Kawthekar: his ambitions, passions, loves and realisation of the absurdity of his life. When yet another group decided to take up this timeless masterpiece, we were curious to find out whether they were attempting anything different. Director Aniruddha Khutwad answers in the affirmative. He says, "When I chose the script, I considered treating it like a 'period' play. But then again, the problems we face today are not very different from what the youngsters of the 70s faced. So, while the text remains the same, the visual treatment of the play has changed."
Lalit, Mumbai's Ekmekaat
On: August 9 at 6.30 pm
Duration: 120 minutes
John Osborne's work titled, Look Back in Anger popularised the term "angry young man" back in the 50s, and now playwright and director Manaswini Lata Ravindra has set out to explore the psyche of an angry young woman. "The protagonist in my play is a very angry woman. She is angry with her work, she is angry at the society, at the corruption in the society, and so on. She vents this anger at her live-in boyfriend, who decides to break up with her," says Ravindra. What happens after the break-up is what the play is about. "Women's role in the society is changing, and we are getting more assertive, we have a mind of our own. While we have adjusted to the changes, the men are clueless about how to behave around a confident woman. My play captures this role-reversal," says Ravindra.
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Aawishkar's Baaya Daar Ughad
On: Today at 6.30 pm
Duration: 150 minutes
Playwright and director, Sushama Deshpande was inspired by a newspaper article, which spoke of women saints from 13th to 18th century. As she researched the subject further, she was convinced that the story of the women saints should be taken to the common man through a play. "These women saints had a special relationship with Lord Vitthal. His name was a ticket to get out of the house, and that's how they became ardent devotees. They would often be termed as whores for stepping out of their homes, but their love for Lord Vitthal kept them strong," explains Deshpande.
The play premiered on August 2, the second death anniversary of Marathi Rangkarmi Chetan Datar. Deshpande agrees that the subject belongs to a different era, but feels the audience will still connect to the story.
Naatak Company's Geli Ekvees Varsha
On: Tomorrow at 6.30 pm
Duration: 90 minutes
This play is fast turning into a festival favourite. Geli Ekvees Varsha made its debut in Mumbai with Thespo. Last Wednesday, the theatre group staged their play as part of the Nehru Centre Theatre Festival and within a week, the group has returned to the city at Pratibimb. While Mumbai is slowly warming up to the play, they have had an overwhelming response in their hometown Pune. Having just returned from an Italian sojourn, where they performed a tweaked version of the play, these young artists are on a high. "The best part about the play is that it comes straight from the heart," says Amey Wagh, the lead actor. Though a resounding clich ufffdd, Geli Ekvees Varsha's story about the angst of a 21-year, created by a group of 21 year-olds, seems to have struck a chord.
Theatrix's Ek Rikami Baju
On: Tomorrow at 3 pm
Duration: 80 minutes
Ek Rikami Baju is about a young woman who is suffering from breast cancer. When actress Geetanjali Kulkarni read the play she was thrilled at the prospect of portraying different stages of the character. But as the group began researching the subject, reading blogs and visiting Tata Memorial Hospital, her perspective changed drastically. "We were so shaken by the atmosphere in the hospital. It was like Churchgate station at peak hour. We had to take a break from the play for a couple of days before we could go on," Kulkarni says. The play has had around 40 shows until now, including in small towns like Kankavli and Belgaum. "The story depicts the before and after-operation stages of the leading actress and how she copes with the entire process. Because this is an issue-based play, people who invite us to perform also organise discussions on breast cancer too," says Kulkarni.
Anandbhog Mall
On: August 10 at 6.30 pm
Duration: 90 minutes
The play, Anandbhog Mall best signifies the growing up of Aasakta Kalamanch as a theatre group. Initially, the group took up individualistic topics but gradually, after recognising that stagnancy had set in, began including social subjects. "The play is about a Maratha man and Brahmin woman -- how their baggage of caste, culture and society affects their marriage. It shows how the politics might begin in the bedroom, but reflects the politics of the society, at large" says Ashutosh Potdar, the playwright. That is the exactly the reason why director Mohit Takalkar wants travel with his play to small towns. "We should be performing in smaller towns, which are on the cusp of turning into cities. The play will find an instant connect there, rather than in metros. In cities, people like to believe that they have overcome caste biases," he says.
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