Rangotsav and the Damoo Kenkre Smruti Natyosav....A five-day festival of Marathi plays...
May 4, 2012 12:00:00 AM IST MTG editorial
The Late Damoo Kenkre Smruti Natyosav, now in its third year, commemorates the theatrical vision of the great thespian. Arun Naik, committee member of the Damoo Kenkre Puraskar explains," A cash award worth One Lakh is given to the most promising young theatre person from Marathi theatre on September 28, Kenkre's death anniversary and the winner is expected to put up a new play on May 5 at the festival coinciding with Kenkre's birth anniversary." This year's winner, young Nipun Dharmadhikari known for his versatility - directing the modern play, REMOTE CONTROL, and the period drama SANGEET MANAPMAN with equal dexterity, is by all means most deserving. "This not just a trophy or a certificate, it is a cash award and a creative challenge to produce a new, worthy play," enthuses Dharmadhikari.
Dharmadhikari acknowledges the honour and the cash award by putting up a huge production with as many as 22 actors - a dark comedy entitled APRADHI SUGANDH. "This was a long one-act play written by Kiran Yadnopavit. We added some more characters and situations to develop it into a full fledged political satire. We have tried not to let the message of the play get overpowered by comedy. We want to set people thinking," elaborates Dharmadhikari. Incidentally, the versatile director has another play of his, NEVER MIND, also playing in the festival. This is a frothy, young love story with Vivek Bele's witty dialogue.
The other three plays include KONDI (an adaptation of Ibsen's AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE), Makrand Sawant's EK RATRA VISARLELI and Diwakar Mohite's TU ANI MEE. This five-day festival is arranged by the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh at Girgaon, Mumbai. Kenkre, in whose memory this festival is being celebrated was a multifaceted theatre person. He was an actor, director, set-designer, institutional head, philosopher and also a theatre activist. He was known for his versatility as a director who did a farce like GHETALA SHINGAVAR, a melodrama like AKHERCHA SAWAAL, a Tamasha-based play like EK NAAR, CHAAR BEZAAR, a historical play like DUSRA PESHWA, socially relevant plays like SPARSH, KAALCHAKRA, experimental projects like WANDHA, TUGHLAQ, HAMLET and SAARI RAAT.
Regarded highly in experimental Marathi theatre circles and also known for his efforts in demanding a dedicated venue for experimental plays, Kenkre continues to inspire young people in Marathi theatre. In keeping with his quest for modern and novel themes, and also his reputation as the beacon of youth theatre, the festival each year, premieres plays put up by the winners of the Damoo Kenkre Puraskar.
Actress Mukta Barve and director Advait Dadarkar won the prestigious award in the first year, followed by director, Manasvini Lata Ravindra in the following year. They put up METER DOWN and LAKH LAKH CHANDERI respectively at the earlier editions of the memorial festival. "The winners are given complete creative freedom, there is no censorship whatsoever. In fact, I hadn't even watched last year's play 'LAKH LAKH ...' which was based on a bold man-woman relationship," adds Arun Naik.
This five-day festival is free for all theatre enthusiasts.
Schedule:
May 5, APRADHI SUGANDH by Damoo Kenkre Puraskar winner, Nipun Dharmadhikari, 6.30 pm
May 6, TU ANI MEE, directed by Diwakar Mohite, 6.30 pm
May 7, NEVER MIND, directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari, 6.30 pm
May 8, KONDI, directed by Shekhar Navare, 6.30 pm
May 9, EK RATRA VISARLELI, directed by Makrand Sawant, 6.30 pm
Venue: Dr Bhalerao Natyagruha, Sahitya Sangh, Girgaon, Mumbai
*Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule
