Someone has rightly said, “Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. And more so, it is the foundational principle that holds all relationships”. Writer - Director Anand Mhasvekar’s new Marathi play presented by Govind Chavan, is nothing but a humour filled relationship between husband and wife, who have lived life together for the past 35 years with disagreement over all issues in life. A day without an argument is like an egg without salt. Yet, they are considered to be the an ideal couple by a young girl, who comes into their life, when they are nearing their 36th wedding anniversary.
Shyamrao (Vikram Gokhale)
and Maltibai (Suhas
Joshi) a 60+ couple, who never agree with each other’s point of view. Yet,
they are together for the past 35 years. After retiring from the Government
Secretariat, Shyamrao has settled down in the far suburbs of Dombivali, out of
compulsion, as he did not have sufficient funds to buy a flat at his favourite
place Vile-Parle. Maltibai- a retired school teacher, is a happy-go-lucky woman,
keeping herself busy with her morning walks and exercises besides managing the
household work. But, Shyamrao thinks the other way, spending his morning free
time in reading newspapers. He always calls names to Dombivali, being a polluted
city. For the past few years, there have been two major incidences taking place
in their happy family. The first one being that of their daughter Prajakta, who
marries a Muslim boy much against the wish of her parents and gets detached from
the family and the son-Prasad and daughter-in-law Jyoti, who prefer to stay
separate an year after their marriage. There isn’t much of interaction between
the parents and their son, except for birthdays and wedding anniversaries, when
they exchange pleasantries.
In such a situation, when the couple really needs someone close caring for them,
a young girl Neela ( Priyanka) walks into their house as a paying guest.
Initially, reluctant to permit this working girl to stay in their house,
Shyamrao finally agrees, as Maltibai is moved by the tragic happenings in the
life of this young girl. As the days pass, the couple comes very close to this
young girl and almost start treating her as their own daughter. Hence, they
become restless, when she takes two crucial decisions in her life.
Around the same time, a request comes from their son to take care of their
grandson-Bunty, as his governess had taken off for few months. But, for the
first time, both Shyamrao and Maltibai agree on their combined decision and
regret their inability, as their Ego reminds them about their son’s
selfishness, to remember them only when there is a need. As a result, the gap
between their strange relationship with son and parents widens and Bunty is sent
to a Boarding school, at Panchgani. The couple do repent about their decision
and when they visit Mahabaleshwar, they do visit their grandson, but his unusual
behaviour with them makes them more unhappy. Back home, they get ready for
celebrating their 36th anniversary, when they receive two big surprises.
‘Kathaa( The Story) is a simple tale of a couple and their emotions , very
effectively conveyed by the director using a third party in the form of a young
girl, who respects their living style and inner love for each other. Very
cleverly, he has used the girl’s character, to show the effect of divorces by
matured parents on their grown up children. He has also further gone ahead to
show that for the Ego clashes between the first and second generation, the third
generation suffers and is deprived of love and affection.
All the three characters have given wonderful performances, making this play
more lively. Watch the reactions of the couple in those scenes, when they
receive the phone call from their daughter and when both of them face their
grandson in a spotlight scene. Only lapse noticed during this second scene was
that it was taken on the same set with only spotlight flashing on them; but
there wasn’t darkness around, to make it more effective. ‘Katha’( The
Story) is a good experiment on stage to put forth the social problems of nuclear
families. It is a pleasure to watch its witty presentation.
by Ulhas Shirke © MMW
|
 |
| Kathaa (The Story) |
| Presenter: |
Govind Chavan |
| Banner: |
Supriya Production |
| Production: |
Jivhala, |
| Writer, |
Anand Mhasvekar |
| Director: |
Anand Mhasvekar |
| Set Design:: |
Baba Parsekar |
| Lights: |
Dilip Kolhatkar |
| Music: |
Arun Kanvinde |
| Costume: |
Prakash Nimkar |
| Cast: |
Vikram Gokhale, Suhas Joshi, Priyanka |
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