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Sunday afternoon last week at Bhaidas hall, Vile Parle West, Mumbai, was awash with senior citizens, both women and men, who came in with the support of their walkers and walking sticks or with the help of their companions. Most of them were above the age of 65 years, and they wore big smiles on their faces. After all, this was an occasion to travel back in time to their early youth and childhood. Nostalgia filled the air. The event was ''Jooni Rangbhoomi Na Sambharana'' - a recollection of the old Gujarati Theatre. The show presented by Variations & Yogesh Sanghvi Productions, beautifully wove in the vintage North Gujarati theatre art form known as Bhavai, popular songs from the old Gujarati stage along with short enactments of scenes from the popular plays of the good old days.
The credit for Bhavai, which is known to be in existence for about 600 to 700 years now, apparently goes to Aasaiji Thakar. Bhavai started as an entertainment show and used to be performed late evenings and went on late into the nights in the open space of the village (Gaama no Choro). A villager, usually the village barber held a torch (mashaal) and provided light during the performance.
Bhavai also acted as a social mirror, reflecting on the social stigmas, practices and ills. While Bhavai contains all the Navarasas, the Hasyarasa is subtly woven into the fabric of the story. This story is conveyed with dialogues and songs. Characters enact their roles while dancing and singing. Bhavai is illustrative of an excellent balance between sur and taal. The music is composed and delivered using three main instruments- the Tabla, Bhungal and KansiJoda.
The two narrators Ranglo and Rangli lead the performance. The performance begins with a prayer to lord Ganesh. Every act is called a Vesh and in the old days, the actors would perform multiple acts during the course of one night. As this form and society evolved, natak, i.e. drama and theatre evolved. In 1857, when the Indian soldiers' mutiny against the British took place, the first Gujarati play RUSTOM AND SOHARAB was performed. From here on, one can mark the beginnings of the professional and the urban Gujarati stage.
Deshi Natak Samaj, a pioneering institute (which closed in 1980), had many successful and influential performances during its days of glory. Generations that grew up with it or have been part of it during its formative years, are still found remembering dialogues of successful plays such as PAISO BOLE CHHE. Aficionados and fans of the play still recall popular lines such as 'Pan e toh evane eva rahya'' and ''Aa tu nathi bolti taro paiso bole chhe''. When veteran actors Ghanshyam Nayak and Rajani Shantaram performed a scene from this play, the audience could not have enough of it and encores ensued. It was in fact a tradition of the Jooni Rangabhoomi where audiences would sometimes ask for five to six encores of the same scene or song and they would be performed. Both the audience and the actors were generous with time in those days.
When the duo Ganshyam Nayak and Rajani Shantaram sang a song from a yet another well-known play called VAALABH PATI- ''Jhat jaao chandan haar laavo ghunghat nahi kholun ...'', the audience experienced a roller coaster ride of romance and humour. A goldsmith, Mr Jayesh Soni in the audience, was so overwhelmed with the performance that he gifted gold coins to both the actors as he had been crafting a chandan haar himself.
Maheshwari, yet another veteran actress, performed immortal songs like, ''Sayabo maaro gulaab no chod veli hun to lavingani''. While singing this song, she also gracefully threw a rose at the audience as the yesteryear actress Kamalbai Karnataki would do it during her times. A duet by Maheshwari and Rajani Shantaram- ''Dhanvan jivan mane chhe nirdhan e bojo tane chhe'' is also a great philosophical song.
Well-known actor Utkarsh Majumdar made a theatrical entry and exit from among the audience. He sang many songs such as ''Ek sarakha divas such na koi na jata nathi'', and ''Saar aa sansar ma na joyo''. Ghanshyam Nayak also played the Ranglo and had Liliben Patel playing Rangli as his partner. Together, they acted in a Bhavai with Chotudada. The same team also performed the ever relevant song ''Ame Mumbai na rehvasi'', written and composed by Avinash Vyas.
Yogesh Sanghvi, the producer, has made a great effort to stage this show. The singing actors from the Jooni Gujarati Rangbhoomi are few and rare. Time has taken a toll their health while others have passed away. The actors who are part of this show are above 65 years of age themselves but their spirit is intact. Sanghvi is also considering options to keep this heritage alive for future generations. It is a considerable challenge, but let us hope he is able to do it.
Neelkanth Mehta has edited scientific journals and other in-house publications for different companies. Poetry and drama are his passion. He was part of Naushil Mehta's Vikalp and has acted in Gujarati, English and Hindi plays.
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