Friends, fans, critics and admirers have come togther once again to celebrate Mahesh Elkunchwar, the internationally recognised playwright-screenwriter. As part of the 22nd theatre festival held in the memory of thespian Arvind Deshpande, Awishkar will mount seven plays and other writings of Elkunchwar from January 6 to 10th 2009. The Yashwant Natya Mandir, Matunga, is the venue of this festival which aims to showcase most of the classic plays (and some new ones) written by Elkunchwar. As the playwright enters his 70th year and as most of his plays are being appreciated in most Indian langauges (Kannada, English, Bengali, Hindi), this festival becomes even more relevant. Elkunchwar will be personally present to see some of the productions at Yashwant Natya Mandir. Awishkaar proposes to hold a short on-the-spot public interview of the playwright.

The schedule is as follows:

January 6, 7.30 pm -- Awishkaar-produced Atmakatha -- directed by Girish Patke, The story of a writer looking back on past life through an autobiography. It raises fundamental questions like -- Can a writer distance himself from his own past and produce a truthful account? Is truth a relative concept?

January 7, 5.30 pm- Nasik-based The Genius' Raktapushpa, directed by Praveen Kalokhe, It delves deep into the minds of two women, their physical-mental make-up, their creative urges.

January 7, 8.00 pm- Awishkaar-produced, Chandrakant Kulkarni-directed, Maunraag, it is a stage representation of Elkunchwar's collection of essays.

January 8, 5.30 pm- Pune-based Samanvay's Sonata, directed by Sandesh Kulkarni, delineates the interesting interaction between three women -- two middle-age women who happen to meet a college girl, and how life changes after that.

January 8, 8.00 pm- Pune-based Samanvay's Yugant, directed by Shashank Shende, it is the last part of Elkunchwar's Wada trilogy, which deals with existential dillemmas and human bonding in the times of crisis.

January 9, 5.30 pm- Awishkaar's Eka Natacha Mrityu, directed by Irawati Karnik, one of Elkunchwar's newer plays

January 9, 8.00 pm- Lasya's Pratibimb, directed by late Chetan Datar, which is a rang-nritya manifestation of Enlunchwar's Pratibimb.

January 10, 7.30 pm- Screening of Hindi movie Party which is based on Elkunchwar's play of the same name.

Mumbai Theatre Guide is not responsible for change in schedule.