Pratibimb Marathi Natya Utsav returns to NCPA

The festival opens on Friday with the premiere of Patra Patri, a play featuring Vijay Kenkre and Dilip Prabhavalkar. Speaking about the play, Kenkre said: “Patra Patri, a book of letters by Prabhavalkar, offers a unique experience. The handwritten letters offer a personal touch, and as an actor, Prabhavalkar writing lends itself to performance. We bring these letters to life without a screen, showcasing humour and a friendship that unfolds through the written word.” Though directing and acting in Patra Patri was a challenge for Kenkre, he believes that the audience will enjoy it.

Picked from the NCPA’s playwriting competition ‘Darpan’, ‘Golkonda Diamonds’ by Yogeshwar Bendre is a thought-provoking drama that explores the perennial struggle of individuals against the overwhelming forces of the system. The play unfolds over a train journey as two contrasting characters–an artist and an IT professional–grapple with their own moral dilemmas.

Building on the success of last year’s Darpan winner, ‘Kalgitura’ by Datta Patil, the festival presents ‘Dagad Aani Maati’. This latest work by Patil delves into themes of provenance and identity. ‘Dagad Aani Maat’ represents the state of flux in the present-day countryside and the uncertainty faced by the rural farming youth.

When we spoke to Sachin Shinde, the director of ‘Dagad Aani Maat’, he mentioned the challenges faced by him: “While directing the play ‘Dagad Aani Mati’, I faced the challenge of portraying the current rural reality in the limited space of the stage. But the compelling acting by the artists made many tasks easier. On the face of it, the history of the village seems to be a matter of discovery, but I wanted to find those spaces where an extraordinary universal commentary emerges from between the lines. We are coming with this very different play in today’s Marathi experimental theatre.”

The festival will also present ‘Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta’ directed by Mohit Takalkar. The play was nominated for best production at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) 2024. The play is an adaptation of ‘Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons’ by British playwright Sam Steiner.

Bruce Guthrie, Head of Theatre and Films, NCPA said: “This festival aims to preserve and nurture Maharashtrian culture. It is a celebration and a collaboration between the NCPA and established and emerging artists, creating a vibrant space for artistic expression in the Marathi theatre community.