NCPA, Mumbai to stage its first Marathi theatre festival from August 7-11

The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), one of India's best known arts and cultural institutions, will organise its first-ever festival of contemporary Marathi theatre here from August 7-11. 

The five-day event, Pratibimb: Marathi Natya Utsav, was officially launched here yestrday in the presence of renowned theatre actor-director Atul Kulkarni. It is planned as an annual feature in NCPA's calendar.

According to the organisers, contemporary Marathi theatre highlights trends and stories such as Facebok to breast cancer and drug abuse, and from woman saints of the 13th century to subtle nuances of middle class mores. The festival will echo these expressions, they said.

The event is also aimed at providing a platform for young and emerging talent in Marathi theatre. It will showcase six critically-acclaimed plays directed by some of the most promising creative minds in the current Marathi theatre circuit.

Others present at the launch were NCPA Chairman Khushroo N Suntook, Arun Kakade (President of Avishkaar Theatre Group), Manaswini Lata Ravindra (Director of Ekmekaat), Sushama Deshpande (Director of Baaya Daar Ughad), Aniruddha Khutwad (Director of Ek Rikami Baju and Mahapoor) and actor Padmanabh Bind of the play Mahapoor.

As no Marathi play is complete without Katta – a lively session of debate and discussion – each evening of NCPA Pratibimb: Marathi Natya Utsav will feature a katta session that will be held at the Experimental Theatre at 5 pm.

Theatre experts like Shanta Gokhale, Jayant Pawar, Ravindra Pathre, Meena Karnik and Sumedha Raikar Mhatre will discuss various issues concerning theatre with Mohit Takalkar, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Manaswini Lata Ravindra and others.

"Any festival embodies immense collective energy. NCPA Marathi Natya Utsav will encompass the energy, vibrancy and interactivity of contemporary Marathi Theatre that needs a platform. I am grateful to the NCPA for organising such an event," Kulkarni said.

"One will get to see a lot of competition between new and old plays. It is a must watch for one and all," he said.

Mr Suntook said the festial had been specially conceptualised to bring back the enthralling experience of Marathi theatre. "Audiences will get to witness contemporary Marathi plays, new works as well as a fresh approach to the texts by eminent playwrights. There is an energy and sense of adventure in these plays, and an exploration of a variety of issues most importantly, modern urban relationships."

The organisers said the last few years had witnessed a revitalisation of both Marathi cinema and theatre. To encourage this trend and promote emerging talent in the performing arts space, the NCPA launched its annual Marathi film festival last year titled NCPA Nave Valan, to showcase new wave Marathi cinema. This year, the NCPA Pratibimb: Marathi Natya Utsav has been conceived along the same lines to promote and provide a platform for contemporary Marathi Theatre.

"At the NCPA, we have seen a glorious tradition of Marathi theatre, with eminent directors such as Vijaya Mehta and Amol Palekar staging their plays here. Those doing offbeat contemporary theatre face an ongoing challenge with the lack of suitable venues for their plays. By organising the NCPA Pratibimb Marathi Natya Utsav, the NCPA would like to be a catalyst in the blossoming of a new Marathi theatre scene in the city," Ms Deepa Gahlot, Head - Programming (Theatre & Film), NCPA, said,

The line-up of the festival plays includes:The include Baya Daar Ughad, Ek Rikaami Baju, Geli Ekvees Varsha, Ekmekaat, Anandbhog Mall and Mahapoor.

The festival is supported by the South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur, and Ketik Zaveri Dimensions, the organisers added.

NNN