MARATHI BAANA Performs 1157 Shows... And, More Are Happening... : www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com

MARATHI BAANA Performs 1157 Shows... And, More Are Happening...

August 11, 2011 12:00:00 AM IST
MTG editorial

As Ashok Hande's banner Chaurang enters its 25^th year, MARATHI BAANA, a production which he opened in November 2005 has completed 1157 shows, with more to follow. Chaurang began with DANGAL GANI MANGAL GANI which went on to stage 1800 shows. 'Aawaz Ki Duniya', a Hindi film music based show has widely travelled and has also completed 1400 shows. Chaurang's latest presentation AAZADI 50 is also doing very well. "It spans the entire evolution of mankind right upto the Indian independence struggle. It celebrates the concept of free spirit right from the time the earth came into being, the early man stood up on his own legs to the beginning of Hinduism, and the rise of Jainism and Buddhism. Historical events like the Mughal dominion, the British empire and then the freedom struggle are part of the presentation. It is like an audio visual History text for children," points out Hande.

MARATHI BAANA (Marathi Pride) is one of the biggest and most successful events on Mumbai's stage. A team of 125 artistes sing and dance with adrenalin pumping energy. They perform ritualistic dances from gondhal and jogwa, from the Koli dance to a very sexy lavani. They trace the tradition of festivals. For 150 minutes, they celebrate Maharashtrian culture.

Ashok Hande, a veteran of Marathi stage has produced, written, directed and presented MARATHI BAANA. In the past, his group Chaurang has staged song and dance shows; besides hosting one act play competitions, but with MARATHI BAANA he has raised the standards. It's a lavish show. It requires a bus-load of costumes and props; and another bus-load of light and equipment. Hande's technical crew is able to rig the stage (whatever the shape and size); and they do these high-powered set-ups 5-10 times in a week.

Besides the performance parameters, Hande has re-worked the economics of theatre. When the show began, it was priced at Rs 250, Rs 200, Rs 150 and Rs 100. This was almost three times the price of the regular Marathi commercial plays. Today, the rates continue to be higher than the rest. But audiences are not complaining. To procure a ticket, even after thousand-plus performances, is an onerous task. Shows are houseful within 3-4 hours of the opening of the box office.

The commentary which accompanies the song-and-dance is sentimental and prone to breast-beating. At times, it is politically awkward with references to 'paraprantiya' (migrant population) and the valour of the 'Marathi Manoos' (native Maharastrian). But all this has not deterred spin offs and similar styled shows like MEE MARATHI; and to a lesser extent PALKHI, based on D B Mokashi's travelogue.

Theatre experts and critics have condemned MARATHI BAANA as "a variety entertainment show". But the simple fact is, the biggest event in Maharashtra is a play sans plot, sans actors, sans the dialogue. Perhaps this is the future of theatre...

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