Nehru Centre invites you to the 11th edition of its annual National Theatre Festival. The festival opens on 14th August 2007 with Amal Allana’s NATI BINODINI. The play, which is in Hindustani will have super titles in English. NATI BINODINI will be followed by another of Amal’s productions titled ERENDIRA.

This year’s festival brings you 21 plays in 11 languages. The plays are drawn from nine centres that span all the four corners of India. Some of the highlights of the festival include Ramu Ramanathan’s COTTON 56, POLYESTER 84 and Kavalam Narayana Panikkar’s OTTA MULACHI, a play in Malayalam. Following is the complete schedule of the festival:

Tuesday- 14th August 2007.
7:30 pm.
NATI BINODINI (Hindustani with English titles).
The play is based on the autobiography of yesteryear’s Bengali actress Binodini (1863-1941) titled ‘Aamar Katha’ meaning ‘my story’. This script is based on the original English translation of ‘Aamar Katha’ by Rimli Bhattacharya titled ‘My story and My life as an Actress’ published by Kali For Women.
Director: Amal Allana.
Theatre Company: Theatre & Television Associates, New Delhi.

Wednesday- 15th August 2007.
2:30 pm.
ERENDIRA (Hindustani with English titles).
ERENDIRA is an adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s short story titled ‘Erendira & heartless Grandmother’.
Director: Amal Allana.
Theatre Company: Theatre & Television Associates, New Delhi.

7:30 pm.
ROMEO & JULIET (Hindustani).
A tragedy by William Shakespeare.
Director: Atul Tiwari.
Theatre Company: Ekjute, Mumbai.

Thursday- 16th August 2007.
2:30 pm.
MANUSH-MANUSHI (Bengali).
An adaptation of Nobel laureate Dario Fo’s A WOMAN ALONE & OTHERS.
Director: Santanu Das.
Theatre Company: Kalyani Kalamandalam, West Bengal.

7:30 pm.
MRUTUNJAY (Gujarati).
The play is based on a true story which dates back to the year 1812 and revolves around the life and times of Deven Amarchand.
Director: Kamlesh Mota.
Theatre Company: Shivam, Mumbai.

Friday-17th August 2007.
2:30 pm.
CHOUKATALI VIHIR (Marathi)
Based on an original short story by the late Krishan Chander. Adapted into the Tamasha tradition by Vijay Mishra.
Director: Amit Rai.
Theatre Company: Bhav Ras Taaal in association with KDMC Drama group, Mumbai.

7:30 pm.
KANYADAAN (English).
Based on the original Marathi play by Vijay Tendulkar.
Director: Lillete Dubey.
Theatre Company: PrimeTime, Mumbai.

Saturday- 18th August 2007.
2:30 pm.
OTTAMULACHI (Malayalam).
An adaptation from traditional sources, OTTAMULACHI is based on the theme of the South Indian epic ‘Silappatikaram’ or the ‘Story of the Anklets’.
Director: Kavalam Narayana Panikkar.
Theatre Company: Sopanam Institute of Performing Arts & Research, Kerala.

7:30 pm.
MALAVIKAAGNIMITARAM (Malayalam).
Original Sanskrit classic written by Mahakavi Kalidasa.
Director: Kavalam Narayana Panikkar.
Theatre Company: Sopanam Institute of Performing Arts & Research, Kerala.

Sunday- 19th August 2007.
2:30 pm.
VEDHAPASHYA (Hindustani).
An adaptation of the classic Greek tragedy OEDIPUS REX by Sophocles.
Director: Waman Kendre.
Theatre Company: The Academy of Theatre Arts, University of Mumbai.

7:30 pm.
JAANCH PARTAL (Hindustani).
Based on the original Russian play INSPECTOR GENERAL by Nikolai Gogol.
Director: Sanjay Sahay.
Theatre Company: Renaissance Repertory Company, Bihar.

Monday- 20th August 2007.
2:30 pm.
O’LEAR (Kannada).
Based on the original play KING LEAR by William Shakespeare.
Director: AG Chidambara Rao Jambhe.
Theatre Company: Rangayana, Mysore.

7:30 pm.
HUMSE TUMSE PYAR KAREGA KAUN! (Hindustani).
Original Marathi story written by Vijay Tendulkar. A light, romantic comedy.
Director: Devendra Raj Ankur.
Theatre Company: Sambhav, New Delhi.

Tuesday- 21st August 2007.
2:30 pm.
DEVCHAR KHELAYATA MOGYANK MELAYTA (Konkani).
Based on Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.
Director: Jayendranath Haldankar.
Theatre Company: Rangmell Repertory Company, Kala Academy, Goa.

7:30 pm.
MITR (Hindustani).
An adaptation of Shirish Athavale’s original Marathi play.
Director: Dinesh Thakur.
Theatre Company: Ank, Mumbai.

Wednesday- 22nd August 2007.
2:30 pm.
KAFKA- EK ADHYAY (Hindustani).
The play is an exploration of the life of the celebrated literary figure Franz Kafka.
Director: Suresh Sharma.
Theatre Company: The National School of Drama (NSD) Repertory Company, Delhi.

7:30 pm.
UTTARARAMACHARITH (Hindustani).
Original Sanskrit classic written by Mahakavi Bhavbhuti.
Director: Prasanna.
Theatre Company: The NSD Repertory Company, Delhi.


Thursday- 23rd August 2007.
2:30 pm.
WAITING ROOM (Marathi).
A play exploring the first-ever communal tension that erupted in Goa in 2006.
Director: Saish Deshpande.
Theatre Company: Prabhakar Sanskritik Sanstha, Goa.

7:30 pm.
COTTON 56, POLYESTER 84 (Hindustani).
A story of Mumbai; a real life story that dwells on the lives of the girni kamgar (the textile mill worker) and on the notorious mill land issue.
Director: Sunil Shanbag.
Theatre Company: Arpana, Mumbai.

Friday- 24th August 2007.
2:30 pm.
APEKSHA (Assamese).
Described as a ‘realistic’ play by its director, APEKSHA is based on an original Assamese novel titled ‘Dotal Hatir Wooye Khowa Hawoda’ by the Gynanpeeth awardee Dr. Mamoni Raison Goswami alias Dr. Indira Goswami.
Director: Bahrul Islam.
Theatre Company: Seagull, ‘The Vision Troupe’, Guwahati.

7:30 pm.
LOONA (Punjabi).
The subject, theme and treatment of this play are derived from Punjabi folklore and the ancient traditions of the oral narrative.
Director: Kewal Dhaliwal.
Theatre Company: Manch-Rangmanch, Amritsar.

Venue for all performances: Nehru Centre Auditorium, Worli.
Entry is free and is subject to first come, first serve basis. However entry pass is required. Contact the Nehru Centre on 24964676-80 for further inquiries. In case the passes are sold out, there is a fair chance of procuring them if you reach the venue early.

*The above information is courtesy the Nehru Centre. Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.