Border Disorder

Produced by Natyasamprada and Maharashtra Kalanidhi,the play showcases the trials and tribulations of the Marathi-speaking community living in Belgaum and how they “continue to suffer silently generation after generation”.

Anant Panshikar of Natyasamprada,who is also the producer of the play,shares the historical events that have resulted in the current plight. “The Samyukta Maharashtra initiative,which gathered momentum in the ’50s to create a separate Marathi-speaking state out of the then-bilingual state of Bombay in western India,saw several noted activists and politicians such as Acharya Atre,Prabodhankar Thackeray,Senapati Bapat,Bhai Uddhavrao Patil and Shahir Amar Shaikh rally for the cause. But the bordering cities of Karnataka,which were also part of the Maharashtra envisaged by the activists,were not included in the state that was eventually formed,” he says.

The story of Zalach Pahije revolves around a Maharashtra chief minister’s daughter who falls in love with a man from Belgaum. However,the couple is unable to marry as the fight between the two states come in their plans. Panshikar,who says the team spent almost four years on research,has made the play on the lines of verbatim theatre. “This year,Natyasamprada complete 50 years in theatre and Pahije is our 50th play. We couldn’t have thought of a better subject to mark the occasion,” he says. Panshikar adds that they have also used some taped interviews and videos for the play.

The play has been written by Pradeep Rane and Santosh Pawar and has also been directed by Pawar. The music is composed by Sambhaji Bhagar and Kamlesh Bhadkamkar. Savita Malpekar,Hemant Dheme,Manasi Singh and Sandesh Upashyam are some of the actors who play the lead roles.

“The play was first performed in Mumbai on May 1,which was

Maharashtra Divas. We are trying our best to reach out to people

about the issue. The new,modern generation has only heard about the problems and is unaware of the trauma that people of Belgaum suffer,” says Panshikar.

Zalach Pahije will be performed at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha on June 1,starting 9.30 pm