As Naseeruddin Shah inaugurated Prof. Waman Kendre's new play at the NCPA theatre in three languages on July 3 2011, he got a tad nostalgic about his alma mater-the Aligarh Muslim University. Since many of the actors aboard were qualified theatre students of the Academy of Theatre Arts, University of Mumbai, Shah harked back to his college days where he restarted the long shut-down drama club albeit with a restriction that male and female students weren't allowed to act together. Strangely, members of the opposite sex still cannot work together on-stage in Aligarh University. "They are caught in a time warp," rued Shah.
He went on to applaud Kendre's unique venture of staging the same play in three different languages on the same day. This tri-lingual play is an adaptation of the Sanskrit classic, 'Madhyam Vyayog' by dramatist Bhasa. Incidentally, all the three shows were performed by the same actors on the same day. Their marathon performance sets a record of sorts. "More than the world record, I am impressed by the wide reach the play will get through three languages," added Shah.
Also present on the occasion were Mumbai University Vice Chancellor Dr. Rajan Welurkar and ex-NSD director Ram Gopal Bajaj whom Kendre hailed as his Guru. Shah dashed across the audience to meet the NSD guru to give him a great bear hug.
Written, directed and music composed by Waman Kendre, this musical mythological play is the story of Bheema's tribal wife Hidimba and their mighty son Ghatotkacha. The triple delight is produced by Gauri Kendre, director, Rangapeeth. Veteran theatre producer Dinu Pednekar will present the future shows of the play(s).