Successful Experiment

In 1972,the landmark Marathi play by Vijay Tendulkar,Ghashiram Kotwal was showcased for the first time in the city.

The Progressive Dramatic Association celebrates 60 years of landmark achievements in Marathi experimental theatre

In 1972,the landmark Marathi play by Vijay Tendulkar,Ghashiram Kotwal was showcased for the first time in the city. Directed by Jabbar Patel,the play was one of the most important voices that set the tone for Marathi theatre. Tendulkar’s play was produced by the Progressive Dramatic Association (PDA) which was set up to give impetus to experimental theatre in the city. Now,as the organisation completes 60 years,their aim has only strengthened.

The PDA was established in October 1951,with an investment of only Rs 6 by Professor Bhalba Kelkar,Taramati Gharpure,Shreeram Lagoo,Jayant Dharamadhikari and Keshav Ghule. Today,the group has produced more than 70 classic Marathi plays dealing with various subjects,right from social commentaries to historical masterpieces. At his residence in Sahakar Nagar,Shashikant Kulkarni,secretary,PDA graciously welcomes one. His home has been a witness to a theatrical revolution. Kulkarni has spent 50 years at the PDA giving shape to various projects. “I had seen a play by PDA called Vadhyache Ghar Unhat by Vasant Kanitkar at Bharat Natya Mandir. I was thrilled by the performance and so I volunteered to join them as a backstage worker,” says the retired banker.

The membership for the association is open for people from all backgrounds. The only prerequisite is that the applicant must attend the association’s three-week theatre workshop that is conducted every year in May. “In three weeks,we are able to gauge how interested a person is in theatre. It also helps us get trained members,” explains Kulkarni. Currently,there are 20 active members consisting of youngsters who are dedicated to theatre.

It was this workshop which got Smita Taware,a restoration ecologist by profession,to get associated with PDA. Today,Talware takes care of the production aspects of the plays. She has spearheaded the production side of several plays when they participated in Rajya Natya Spardhas held in different parts of the country. “There was one competition held in Delhi recently; we’ve staged plays in Kolkata and Rajasthan too,” she says.

Thirty-year-old Ashish Waze,who joined the association in 2003,has given up his corporate job to take up full-time acting. “I was always drawn towards it and after I attended the workshop,I decided to pursue it full time.” The recent projects Waze has acted in are Pradeep Vaidya’s Sahasrachandradarshan and Achalayatan by Rabindranath Tagore.

Amongst several projects by PDA,one that stands apart is the Parvati Project. Under this project,the association has for the last 30 years presented new plays based on an event or personality from the Peshwa regime,in collaboration with Parvati Devadeveshwar Sansthan Trust. Last year,their play Shokparva- Panipat 1761 was presented.

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