Features

Celebrating a glorious 50 years: A Curtain Raiser to Pune's big youth theatre competition, the 'Purshottam Karandak'




Dr Ajay Joshi


It's been 50 glorious years, and the coveted 'Purshottam Karandak' intercollegiate theatre competition stands tall and proud as it gears up to bask in its golden jubilee celebrations. Its progenitor, the Pune based theatre group - the Maharashtria Kalopasak, is leaving no stone unturned to make it a grand party. In these 50 years, the prestigious competition has seen more than 1500 one-act plays and has nurtured thousands of artistes.

Come August and the excitement in colleges is palpable. Preparations start even before the official announcement is out. This first theatre activity on any college calendar is a challenge well- taken and upheld, as it nurtures camaraderie, even as tears and fears are shed.


On August 1, 1962, Purshottam Ramchandra alias Appasaheb Vaze, an active theatre artiste passed away. In his memory, his colleagues, decided to hold some drama activity. Back then, theatre at the amateur level was restricted to college gatherings, when the appointed jury would choose the best. But the restlessness of the youngsters and the dire need to create a platform for their artistic expressions was acutely realised, resulting in this competition.

In the very first year, B.J. Medical College, S.P. College, Pune University Gymkhana, Law College, B.M.C.C, Tilak Ayurved College, Tilak Prashikshan and S.N.D.T. College participated. B.J. Medical college bagged the first prize for BALI, while theatre and film giant Dr Jabbar Patel, walked away with the best Director award.

Starting from the Fergusson College Amphitheatre (1963-'73), the venue for the competition moved to the B.M.C.C (1974) and is currently staged at the Bharat Natya Mandir (1975 onwards). The 'Purshottam Karandak' stage has produced many stalwarts in the Marathi theatre and film fraternity and has been a launching pad for their careers. Satish Alekar, Dr Mohan Agashe, Sonali Kulkarni, Chandrashekhar Phansalkar, Abhiram Bhadkamkar, Subodh Bhave, Lokesh Gupte, Rahul Solapurkar, Prasad Vanarase, Gagan Bihari Borate, and a host of others would vouch for this. Memorable plays like AIK ZHULTA POOL, KALKICHE BAL, SUNILA PARNAME SHALELA CHALALI HOTTTI, YATNA GHAR, MAET, BABY BIRTH, MANJU, ANDHALI KOSHIMBIR, are still fondly remembered. Plays of different genres- tragedy, comedy, tragi-comedy, black humour, farce, satire, absurd, are played here with relish.

With about 51 entries this year, bound by stringent rules and regulations, a plethora of awards to be won and a dream platform for these young people, the stage is all set. What sets the 'Purshottam Karandak' apart from the rest of the competitions is the discipline with which it is conducted. The stress is not on the technical aspects of theatre but strictly focussed on acting, direction and playwriting. The organisers never felt the need to raise the prize money, but the competition's popularity with the youth has been phenomenal. In the last couple of years, the competition has taken wings to encompass Universities in other parts of Maharashtra- Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, Jalgaon, and Mumbai, to which it has received an overwhelming response. For the organisers, this is not only a theatre activity but a 'Movement', which has sustained purely due to the unflinching commitments of the volunteers. This is another thing that has been exclusive to this competition. It did not stay as the 'property' of a handful; rather each year a new set of volunteers are groomed and absorbed into its fold. The organisers say 'Purshottam Karandak' did not create artistes, but helped them explore their talent by providing them a platform and it is these artistes who have taken the competition forward.

To commemorate this grand occasion, a plethora of activities have been lined up. To launch the activities two books have been released. Rangavahi is about the competition's historical journey, captured in the form of a diary. This book traces prominent happenings in each of the five decades of the competition, with listing of plays, award winners, a collage of photographs, etc. The other book is a compilation of 32 of the best plays over 50 years.

The preliminary rounds of the competition for the Pune participants will be held from 12th to 27th August 2014 and the grand finale will be on 13th and 14th September. From August to November, selections will also be taking place in other regional areas. From 17th December to 20th December, the best from all these centres will compete in Pune, to bag the prestigious trophies. 'Purshottam Rajani'- the award ceremony will take place on 21st December.

Starting 17th September, the best 24 plays that have been staged at the 'Purshottam Karandak' to date will be staged in a programme titled, 'Aikankika Mahotsav'. These may be performed by the original teams, many of whom are today the who's who of Marathi theatre and film industry or may be directed for a new team, depending on availability of the artistes.

Alongside the performances, academic seminars and master- workshops have been planned in September, October and November. From 22nd September to 27th September, Satish Alekar will run a workshop for select students on his innovative concept 'Sanhita teh Prayog' (Script to Performance). Other speakers who have been approached are Ram Gopal Bajaj, Bansi Kaul and a host of others. 'Purshottam Gaurav Granth', a collector's item in the digital format, having an audiovisual format, will have interviews, photographs, video-recording of plays etc. A grand project of hosting an International Students Drama Festival is also in the pipeline scheduled for May 2015.

A big platter of theatre is on offer in Pune in the coming months. The 50-year journey is going to be nostalgic and celebratory.

*Dr Ajay Joshi is a practicing dentist with an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication. He also holds a Ph.D. on the role of Critics and Criticism in Marathi theatre. Ajay has contributed to the Prithvi Theatre Newsletter (PT Notes) and writes on varied topics ranging from theatre to travel for newspapers like Indian Express, Maharashtra Times, Sakal, Mid-Day, etc. He is based in Pune.


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