The 16th edition of the Mrigjal Intercollegiate one-act play competition at Vile Parle in Mumbai showcased some brilliant scripts and actors. December 11 2010 was a day of jubilation for young theatre wallahs. The winners of the 16th Mrigjal Intercollegiate One Act Play Competition were aware of a whole new vista of opportunities opening up for them. "Professional theatre producers scout for fresh talent here. ALL THE BEST, the famous blockbuster play was picked up from here. Last year's winner HOUSEFUL was converted into a full length play," Manish Railkar of Mrigjal cites proudly.

This year's winner, GIRGAON VIA MUMBAI from the all time favourite Maharshi Dayanand College is based on the United Maharashtra Agitation of 1960 when many brave Maharashtrians fought for the inclusion of Mumbai in the state. The play talks about a woman who had lost her brother and also her boyfriend in this agitation and now she rues the futility of their sacrifice. The play is already creating ripples of curiosity amongst Marathi theatre circles.

	EK DONE ADICH

 
EK DONE ADICH, the runner up from Mumbai University is an interesting story of a frustrated young man waiting to commit suicide at the railway platform. But as fate would have it, even the train gets delayed and he is waiting for it impatiently. A blind man walks in and starts talking to him. The blind man is such an optimist that by the time the train comes around the corner, the dejected young man is forced to revise his decision. Aniket Patil of the troupe enthuses, "What makes this win doubly special for us is that our play was also the audience's favourite. We already have been booked for several shows. We have been approached by The Cancer Patients' Association and a Vasai based organization which recently had three suicide cases. Everybody loves the positive tone of our play," he adds triumphantly.

	LAPACHHAPI

 
LAPACHHAPI written by Ratnakar Matkari is a dark thriller that lifted the third prize for M L Dahahnukar college. It features 16 actors and most of them are standard eleventh junior college students! It is the story of a school boy from a tiny village whose mother died at his birth and he is blamed for her death by his father. When he goes to the fifth standard his father decides to take him along to Mumbai for further studies. But there are those who oppose his move and the little boy turns vicious. He uses his favourite game of hide and seek to murder anybody who dares to challenge him. "The play depicts how the evil overtakes the goodness in the boy. It cautions the viewer of the imbalance of personality that can afflict anybody..." explains Tushar Joshi of Theatre Magic, the dramatic section of Dahanukar college as it has been named this year. The winning colleges are gung ho about performing in other competitions and they also have been approached by some institutions for staging their plays.

Launched 16 years ago by a bunch of theatre enthusiasts like playwright Vikram Watave and actor Sachin Khedekar, the competition has grown from strength to strength over the years. This year witnessed 18 plays staged by various colleges from all over Mumbai. In an attempt to encourage maximum participation, Mrigjal not only waives off the entrance fee for colleges with validated forms signed by their respective Principals but also hands out 150 tickets (worth Rs 30 each) to the participating colleges for raising funds. The competition is an anticipated event, held every year in the second week of December that even with tickete shows there are takers for it. "We also provide them with sets and lights on a discount," says Manish Railkar. The rules are simple - each participating troupe has to put up the play within an hour. Right from erecting the sets, to handling the lights to staging and winding up the act. Our volunteers help them too. Right from our chairman Sachin Khedekar, everybody lends a helping hand," relates Railkar.

The competition was adjudged by a panel of renowned judges - Swati Chitnis, Sunil Barve, Vijay Patkar, Rajan Tamhane and Alisha Naik. The Mrigjal competition certainly is a big stepping stone for budding Marathi theatre talent.

The Results of 16th Mrigjal Intercollegiate one act plays (Dec 2010):

Best one act play
1. Girgaum Via Mumbai, Maharshi Dayanand College
2. Ek Done Adich, Mumbai University
3. Lapachhapi, M L Dahanukar College

Audience Choice
Ek Done Adich, Mumbai University

Best Writer
Hrishikesh Koli, Girgaum Via Mumbai, Maharshi Dayanand College

Best Director
Anil Bhor, Girgaum Via Mumbai, Maharshi Dayanand College

Best Actor
1. Ninad Limaye, Girgaum Via Mumbai, Maharshi Dayanand College
2. Omkar Raut, Malabh, Ruparel College
3. Yashoman Apte, Lapachhapi, M L Dahanukar College

Best Actress
1. Rutuja Bagwe, Girgaum Via Mumbai, Maharshi Dayanand College
2. Deepali Malkar, Dangal Chalu Aahe, T N Tope College
3. Samruddha Bhosale, Pratyancha, Shankar Narayan College


*Deepa Ranade is a film and theatre reviewer. She has been an entertainment journalist for over fifteen years.