SHATRANJ KE MOHRE

Shatranj Ke Mohre was first staged in 1971 and is now celebrating its 35th year of houseful shows. This satirical play by P.L.Deshpande has become a classic. Over the years it has evolved with the stellar performances by actors like Manmohan Krishna, A.K. Hangal, Arundhati Nag, Gita Kak, Sulabha Arya and others. It has been IPTA Mumbai's longest running play and is performed by an ensemble cast. Shatranj Ke Mohre is a satire, subtly told on many levels through the protagonist Kakaji Bakshi and the antagonist Acharya Ram Bhajan. The play tells us of the values dear to both, Kakaji and Acharyaji, and how in the stream of their thoughts other characters get thrown in, are tossed about and finally resolve their struggles. The play talks about human-pawns who revolt, as they have done all along, under complex circumstances. What is good, what is evil, is not to be decided by someone outside you and it is the duty of each one of us, to bring the less knowing to a level where he or she can take independent decisions.