ZALAACH PAHIJE

It's fifty-seven years since the revolution for united Maharashtra - when the late political colossus, Acharya Pralhad Keshav Atre declared 'Zalaach Pahije', which means 'must be done'. This was a clarion call of sorts that triggered off a social movement that demanded on including Mumbai and Belgaum in the new state of Maharashtra. As many as 105 martyrs gave up their lives for the case. Although the movement won Maharashtra its capital - Mumbai, the border towns of Belgaum, Nipani, Bidar and Karwar remain the bone contention between the two states - Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The play takes up the burning issue of border towns, but presents it in the popular 'tamasha' format. Starting off with the traditional 'gan' - the prayer to lord Ganesha which invokes the elephant-headed God to give strength to the Maharashtrians who feel rootless in the border towns. Then comes the 'gavlan' in which the gopis urge Lord Krishna to resolve the chronic border issue. The story proceeds with a cross border romance between Belgaum youth Yuvraj and Maharashtra-based Asmita.

Sambhaji Bhagat and Kamlesh Bhadkamkar have designed the music for this play.