After 2222 Shows, SAHI RE SAHI Heads For Israel...
August 3, 2011 12:00:00 AM IST MTG editorial
Way back in 2002, Kedar Shinde wrote and directed SAHI RE SAHI, a family comedy full of intrigue. It had Bharat Jadhav playing four roles and all four of them appeared on-stage simultaneously! All four spoke and their mannerisms were in sync with each other's. How is that possible, marveled the fascinated audience? Nine years hence, the play continues to regale the audience - enticing them, enchanting them. And,SAHI RE SAHI has gone on to a record of 2222 shows recently.
"Bharat Jadhav's smashing performance and total cooperation, Kedar Shinde's magical direction and engaging story, Ashok Patki's music - make SAHI RE SAHI such a grand hit," admits producer Suresh Bhat of Suyog. The 2222nd show was staged at Parijat Hall, Mulund and a grand gala is planned for the 2500th show. "We want a mega celebrity to grace this landmark show. Most probably it would be staged on Jan 1, 2012, the foundation day of Suyog," he reveals further.
Presently, SAHI RE SAHI is headed for Israel. "We will be in Israel from Sept 8th to stage four shows. Israel has an 80,000 strong population of Maharashtrians," informs Bhat.Suyog took over the play exactly a year ago from producer Lata Narvekar who had staged 1940 shows of it before it changed hands following a bitter legal battle.
"We took over the play exactly a year ago (Aug 1, 2010), and since the re-launch we have staged over 250 shows of it. We had to incorporate some creative changes like smoothening out the dialogues, re-recording the music. Since it has Bharat in a quadruple role, it requires a lot of running across the stage - we had to have glitch-proof and swanky sets," elaborates Bhat. SAHI RE SAHI fans have watched the play more than 20 times over and they feel the new avatar is "much faster and smoother."
However, the essence of the plot and the cast has been retained. This thriller-comedy revolves around the murder of a rich old man that has been committed by his wife and lover who produce a lookalike to obtain his sahi(signature in Marathi) which would transfer all his wealth to the wife (now a widow). It has Bharat Jadhav playing the roles of the rich old man, lookalike LIC agent, a village bumpkin and a truck driver.
"The play is eponymous with Bharat Jadhav and he is absolutely dedicated to it. In spite of his busy shooting schedules, he coordinates his dates very well. "For instance, if he's shooting at Madh island till 6 pm, he asks us to book the 9 pm show in Borivali," Bhat acknowledges. That is 'sahi re sahi' indeed.
