Watch how Mumbai's favourite deity saves the city

This Christmas, playwright Gopi Warrier presents his third play -- Siddhivinayak Saves Mumbai From Terror Attacks -- inspired by faith in humanity

Playwright and poet, Gopi Warrier was certain his newest production would premier in Mumbai and that too at Ravindra Natya Mandir, the auditorium closest to Siddhivinayak Temple. "I'm an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha.


An actor rehearses for the play

I had to have the first shows of the play right here," he says. The title of the play -- Siddhivinayak Saves Mumbai from Terror Attacks -- makes it clear why Mumbaikars might connect most with the production.

The play deals with contemporary issues of faith, while at the same time making a commentary on society. The main characters of the play are Dr Deshpande, a senior medical doctor, who is an ardent devotee of Siddhivinayak, and a young Muslim man Ali, who is Dr Deshpande's maid's husband.

Ali inadvertently discovers a plot by a western agent to explode a bomb at Siddhivinayak Temple to create communal disharmony in Mumbai. But the city and temple are miraculously saved due to the prayers of Dr Deshpande and Ali.

Through the play, Warrier wants to highlight the power of faith as well as Indian philosophy. "We're trying to teach the core elements of Indian philosophy to the younger generation, because they seem to be blindly following the horrendous Western culture. We shouldn't imitate cheap celebrities of the West," he says.

On December 25 to January 12, 2011, 7 pm at Ravindra Natya Mandir, near Siddhivinayak Temple, Sayani Marg, Prabhadevi. Call 24312956 Onu00a0January 14 to 16 at Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
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