Fast Forward

The lead character, Namya,is a young man,who is besotted with a married woman,Savitri. Baba Sankidas,a religious leader,convinces Namya that he must fast unto death if the society is to accept his love. Somehow,over the span of the story,Namya’s personal feelings are taken out of context and are blown up into a politically charged issue.

“The play highlights how a common man’s life is politicised and blown out of proportion. Namya has a simple problem and is manipulated by the Baba,who in turn is manipulated by politicians,” explains Vanarase,who is also the dean at the FLAME School of Performing Arts. The director has worked on a wide range of plays in Marathi,Hindi,English and Kannada such as Goshtichya Goshtichi Goshta,Hello,Khapsurat Bahu and Mahanirman and has showcased some of them at international theatre festivals in London and Sri Lanka.

‘Ladi Najaria’ also explores the frustration of Indian women and how they are treated as objects,says Vanarase. Savitri,the leading lady in the play,raises these questions at the end of the play. “Despite the fact that she is already married to another man,the government – under political pressure arising from Namya’s fast – is forcing her to marry the lovestruck Namya. In the end,she is left with no choice,” says Vanarase.

Though ‘Das Din Ka Anshan’ was written in the 60s,Vanarase says that it is relevant in today’s scenario too. “Clearly we don’t learn from our mistakes and the only one who suffers in all these political exercises is the common man with a common problem,” he points out.

The play is a FLAME project and Vanarase and the playwright,Abhiram Bhadkamkar are both affiliated with the institute. “I have been waiting for a story that is interesting and will help me make a point also. I wanted to pick a play which could teach students about politics,sociology,psychology and other such subjects. This play combines all those,” says Vanarase.