Image caption: Theatre critic Deepak Ghare, 70, was approached to write Ghashiram Ek Vaadal long after Theatre Academy suspended production of Ghashiram Kotwal. Publishing house Granthali felt the need to archive the stormy journey of the unconventional musical.

As per history, Nana Phadnavis was the chief minister of the Peshwas from 1773 to 1800—whose astute political strategy and statesmanship kept the Maratha empire free from British aggression.” The glowing testimonial was religiously read aloud by director Jabbar Patel before each performance of Ghashiram Kotwal, the Vijay Tendulkar-written Marathi play, when it travelled to Europe and Britain in the teeth of intense political opposition from certain sections in Maharashtra. That was way back in September 1980. Patel preceded the shows with a rider, duly translated in respective European languages, so that the foreign audience (German, French, Dutch) was saved from forming a negative and scandalous image of the historical character Nana Phadnavis, whose fictional avatar was the premise of the play. 
 
Theatre Academy’s 40-strong performing troupe was thus, notified by the Bombay High Court to exercise care and caution, while representing an Indian story abroad.