I have done 4 One Act Plays. The first one was done way back in school (1999), it was called 'The Hut' where I had little or almost no knowledge of the stage. I simply erupted the dialogues that I had learned.
It was after almost 17 years that our village of Manickpur was participating in the annual 'Yuvadarshan' Competition which is at the Diocese (Vasai) level. The Play was in Marathi, titled 'Aandhlya Khidkya' (2003) which when translated means 'Blind Windows'. Now, this play won 4 major awards at that competition and set up a record. It won the Best Director (Third), Best Lights (Second), Best Stage (Second) and above all Best Play. This was really the highest point in my life, I was never ever so happy and excited in my life to add to it I was really surprised by our victory. Later on we performed this play at two other venues. This was a terrific excitement experience the play had generated for one and all. Here's a clip from the play.
The Plot: There are two old men who have grown tired of the lack of subjects to chat about, suddenly they hatch up a plan and plant a story of their children and then follows a series of different moods that affect humans. There is love, care, fighting and also tragedy.
I play: A Senior Citizen.
Well now since we had won the competition, we were ready to rock next year as well. This was titled 'Khol, Khol Andhar' (2004) which when translated means 'Deep, Deep Darkness'. Now this was a tricky one our original cast was busy with another play, and was not available further more we were working and could not devote time to this play. Due to such reasons, we did not finish at the top, but that did not mean that we did not give a fight. We did, but it just wasn't enough.
The Plot: A middle class father has his share of loads in his life, a young daughter and a mentally retarded son. This is a story of the various twists and turns in his life.
I play: A tensed father.
As I said Manickpur had a huge affair with theater, in the 1980's a bunch of theater enthusiasts started 'Rasik Ranjan' a theater troup that held One-Act Play competitions and participated in such competitions in Vasai as well as Bombay. This group had revieved itself after a break with the onset of us wandering onto the theater stage. This was more so comprised with some old timers along with the new blood that had wandered (i.e.us). Well then Rasik Ranjan decided to do a full fledged play (2 acts) by the name 'Kolia Raja' simply ment 'King of the Fisherfolk'. Well I could not bag a role in this expansive venture as I was working at that particular time, what was I doing? see here. But I did do a more important role in the play, I was a part of the backstage and got a low down on how the backstage really is. We performed 3 shows of this play in different parts of Vasai.
The Plot: A typical look in to the life of the fisherfolk. Their joys, their sorrows, their victories, their rivalries and the uncertain life.
I play: Nothing. Backstage Artist.
The year 2005 saw us performing 'Udwahan' which on translation would mean 'The Lift'. It was a terrific performance by all the actors involved in the play. It was definately a job well done upto the right amount of satisfaction. Though it did not win the best play award it bagged the Best Actor (Second), Best Actress (Second) and Best Lights (Second).
The Plot: There is a liftman who doubles up as the uplifter of souls to their final destination.
I play: A Beggar.
The year 2005 also saw me doing a Street Play on the subject of AIDS, A presentation of the theater group 'Rasik Ranjan'. This was to raise a general awareness of the disease in and around Vasai. We performed the play at 10 different locations within Vasai and Mumbai. The interesting part of this campagain was that we were accompanied by Santa Clauses who gave the message of AIDS awareness for the Christmas season rather than bringing Sweets and Presents. Well after the campagain, I lost my voice for nearly 4 days! Here's a clip from the play.
The Plot: Nothing like a story as such, but general awareness with some stories intermingled within themselves, showcasing different aspects of a AIDS sufferrer.
I play: A person suffering from AIDS.
2006 and an adapted version of 'Vastraharan' a play that still rules on the stage. This play has been customised to fit in local languages. This play is staged by Rasik Ranjan.
The Plot: It is about a local theater group in a village who are about to stage Draupadi's Vastraharan, but have to face a lot of problems that crop up at the final moments - the musicians go for a funeral, characters get drunk and rivalry between the casts heats up. The leader of the village has to bear this burden as well as the crowds getting restless. We have performed 3 shows across various locations of this wacky comedy
I play: Vidur.
