Mahadevbhai

I love theater but I still have only managed to see a handful of plays (about 15-20) in my 5 year stay in Bombay. Its a pity really. But whenever I do watch a play it never ceases to amaze me. On one such occasion, which was actually the recently concluded Prithvi Theatre carnival, I saw this 20 minute short called “Aaj Ki Baaki Baat” which is directed and enacted by Jaimini Pathak. He serenaded the jam-packed Prithvi auditorium with his narration and enactment of the ageing Bengali Poet. It was an extremely well-written play but according to me, the performance was what over-shadowed or rather gobbled everything else. Pathak was immaculate in his performance, speech (which was extremely poetic) and expressions. I was, like many others in the audi, simply mesmerized. Fortunately, I bumped into him outside when I asked him for a cigarette lighter and found the perfect moment to praise him for his superb act!

Last night, I had another fortunate opportunity to see a great play and a great, extremely great, performance by him for the very famous play 'Mahadevbhai' written and directed by Ramu Ramanathan. I had heard extremely good things about the play which has already had about 200 shows and my expectations were way too high, both from the play and the performer. The play is about Mahatma Gandhi's confidante, friend and assistant Mahadev-bhai. First and foremost, it taught illiterate people like me, so many things about a person who always remained a shadow to the “father of the nation” and happily so. It brings forth his accomplishments, his talent and his complete devotion to Gandhi. This is obviously interspersed with India's struggle for independence. So we are tickled with the memories of those boring history classes when we first learnt about Quit India, Dandi March, Non Violence etc. This time they are all woven into Mahdevbhai's story and what an effect that has. It is one of the most well written play I have seen. Especially loved the ending where Pathak talks about what Mahadevbhai would have written in his diary after he died. It was extremely beautiful.

Now a special word for the performer. The presentation of the play is similar to the short that I mentioned earlier. Pathak is the narrator and also enacts the role of almost 20 other characters of the play. Spectacular, isn't it. Not for a second, he falters. It was simply a delight to watch him. At one moment, it was so uncanny, someone's mobile phone rang in the theater (Yes, people in India still don't have play watching manners) and he just came to the mike and said “shaant shaant shaant” and it was actually a part of the speech that he was giving while enacting one of his many roles. I don't know how the two things happen together. It was interesting! So, he was an endearing narrator, often evoking responses from the audience and an actor with a myriad of characters bundled into him for the duration of a little more than two hours. Simply fabulous.

BTW, just got to hear that the play had received “scathing” reviews when it was launched from some stalwarts including Mr Vijay Tendulkar. I was quite surprised to hear that. However, even that's interesting. I don't know, sometimes, some really iconic stuff also evokes mixed reactions from critics, which is absolutely fair as all forms of art, is subjective.

Well, I am, OBVIOUSLY, no critic. Just a humble viewer. And I think Mahadevbhai (and Jaimini Pathak) is an absolute must-watch.

Two plays. Two men

The last two plays that I saw have been the best plays I have seen so far. First one was Rajat Kapoor’s ‘Hamlet’. Second is Naseeruddin Shah’s ‘Ismat Apa Ke Naam-2’. One common thread, according to me, between both the plays is the unique style of narration. Actually the style of narration in both is equally important as the story.



Hamlet is the Shakespear’s ‘Hamlet’ narrated by Rajat Kapoor’s clowns. Needless to say that the performances by each and every actor is spectacular. The play is extremely funny in terms of the narration. But the commendable part is that when it is deep into the story of Hamlet, it assumes great proportion of tragedy. The audience is on a roller coaster ride with one funny moment, then back to tragedy and then again back to a laughter riot. The transition is a great experience. The play is not tough on those who haven’t read Shakespeare’s tragedy. Actually, it’s a great way to learn the basic plot. But obviously puritans wouldn’t agree on that! So go catch the play and then munch on the original text later. BTW extremely handsome Rajat Kapoor sneaked in the Prithvi auditorium a number of times during the play to have a look at the lovely audience and their expressions.


The second play ‘Ismat Apa Ke Naam-2’ is, obviously, a sequel of ‘Ismat Apa Ke Naam’. However, they are both standalone plays. These are stories of famous Muslim radical feminist writer (Saadat Hasan Manto’s contemporary) narrated by different artists. The stories are narrated in a unique way. Basically the actors are reading out the stories while enacting the dialogues. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen part one yet. Part two had three stories by Chugtai: Amar Bel, Nanhi Ki Naani and Do Haath enacted by Manoj Pahwa, Loveleen Mishra, and Seema Pahwa respectively. Great great great performances. The Urdu diction of each actor was impeccable. And ofcourse, I am not even getting into the immensely beautiful writing by Chugtai,. That deserves another post in itself. Must watch. Dying to see part one now!

Sunday Outing: All About Women

There were only 50 tickets left, so me and my friend Nasar decided to zoom in to Prithvi Theatre asap. To our slight dismay, the tickets were priced at Rs 300 (instead of the usual 200).We picked up the tickets hoping that the play better be good! After killing three hours drinking Sulemani chai at Prithvi Cafe, browsing books at Landmark and smoking, we stood in the queue excitedly to enter the theatre and started our usual session about movies, plays n books. One of the aunties in the queue intervened to talk about 'All About My Mother' (based on the Almodovar's movie)play which she had just seen and told us how terrific it was. And as we showed some interest in her opinion, she went on to give us gyaan on post-colonialism and feminism, interspersed with "err, why was I telling you this?" to which we really had no answer!

As soon as we settled down, the announcer dude announced that the cellphones need to be switched on because the actors get distracted if the cellphones dont ring during the staging of the play. Nice, I thought. Tickled my funny bone. Now about the play? Awesome. Great performances. Its basically five sort-of interconnected stories about women and the only part that men got to play here was to arrange the stuff in between the scene, which they did rather charmingly. The stories were interesting, just a bit too emotional towards the end. Great humour throughout, otherwise. Loved the old age part. It was simply lovely and so motivating to see 81 year old have a fun crush!

Do catch it if you can. Good fun! And definitely worth a watch!

Tumhari Amrita

My friend called me up last to last week and asked if I am game for a Hindi-Urdu play called Tumhari Amrita on Saturday. I just vaguely remembered that I had seen Shabana Azmi in an ad of this play in Bombay Times several times. And as I am a huge Shabana fan, I said yes without thinking twice. That week, as we all know, the time stopped in Mumbai and the play eventually got cancelled.

Anyway the play was staged this Saturday. I had almost lost the excitement to watch the play but had to go as someone had already got the tickets and stuff.

When we entered St Andrew’s auditorium, my curiosity and excitement levels were constantly on an upswing. I spotted the the stage which had two chairs and their respective tables adjacent to each other with a bunch of papers on each table. There were spotlights above each table. Absolutely no other prop. The director (Feroze Khan) came on stage along with a resplendent Shabana Azmi and a poised Farooque Sheikh and paid one minute tribute to all those who lost their lives during the recent Mumbai attacks. I found a brochure on my seat which described the play as "A poignant love story told through letters spanning a period of thirty five years. This lyrical journey in time and space, chronicles the lives of two very different people, who cannot live with or without each other."

After a few minutes the actors appeared on stage again, this time as Zulfi and Amrita.

Then began a journey, a beautiful, emotional and an involved journey. Though I wouldn't take you into the story of the play (which obviously means that it’s a highly recommended play), I just want to mention some really beautiful characteristics of the play.

The play is an adaptation of an English pay called Love Letters (A R Gurney). It was first staged on February 6, 1992. There is just one setting in the play and two acts.

The entire play consists of these two characters reading out letters which they have written for each other. The story navigates 35 years of the two characters’ lives. The most beautiful part of the play is the words. It is an extremely beautifully written play (by Javed Siddique). The lines were beautifully woven like chime to the air. Both Shabana Azmi and Farooq Sheikh were just superb in the play. The modulation in Shabana's voice as she grows from an innocent young kid to a playful, bold teenage girl to a creative and highly emotional woman is just mind blowing. The play had me engrossed in each moment. I was overwhelmed when I came out of the theatre and was extremely touched by Amrita's predicament.

So those who haven’t seen it, go catch the play when you can . I am looking forward to watch Aapki Sonia which takes forward the story of Tumhari Amrita with exchange of letters between Amrita’s daughter (played by Sonlai Bendre) and Zulfi.