Dramayana

Shirpa’s father in Saaksh episode of ‘ Varyavarchi  Varaat’  says to the judge in court :” Ravan Kidnapped Seeta , so Ram killed Ravan with help of Hanuman. Does this describe Ramayan? “. He then starts describing story of Ramayana right from Ayodhya King Dashrath, ends up with some hilarious anecdotes with modern context on Putrakameshti Yagna (Putra ka Mistake), Seeta harping on Ram to go behind golden deer (you cannot keep any women happy and away from clothes shopping be it Seeta), Manthara, Vibhishan (first person to change political party, Hanuman (to burn houses of third party).  What an amazing acting (PL did it in Varyavarchi Varaat) and writing by P L Deshpande.

 See the Saaksh episode here https://youtu.be/PPraqWW3lRU

And what a coincidence here that after doing Varyavarchi Varaat ( http://nayakgiri.blogspot.com/2019/09/blog-post.html) here in Connecticut, one of the organizers of Desi around Connecticut Diwali event, Durgesh Joshi one day called me to discuss possibility of doing a play based on Ekshloki Ramayan. It’s a Sanskrit Shlok describing Ramayana in single verse.

आदौ रामतपोवनाद- िगमनं : Once Ram went to Forest

हत्वा मृगं काञ्चनं : (there) he chased and killed the Golden Deer

वैदेहीहर- ं जटायुमरणं : Meanwhile Sita (his wife) was abducted (by Ravana) and Jatayu (a bird) was killed

सुग्रीवस- म्भाषणम् : Ram spoke with Sugriva

बालीनिग- रहणं : Killed Bali (unrighteous brother of Sugriva)

समुद्रत- णं लंकापुरी दाहनं: Crossed the ocean and burnt Lanka (Ravan’s city)

पश्चाद्र- वण कुम्भकर्ण हनन: (Ram) Later killed Ravan and (his brother) Kumbhkaran

मेतद्ध- रामायणम्: This is the story of Ramayana

Then I remembered that Saaksh episode from VaryaVarchi Varaat and after discussion we agreed to develop entire story. Another Organizer Upendra Watve suggested we have a Sanskrit play based on Ramayana.  We discussed eternally and finally reached a concept where we start the play from Kaikeyi Varam( Boon granted by Dashrath to Keikeyi in Dev Danav War) and end with Raavan wadh. We would also include Sanskrit in it. Introduce multilingual action by using South Indian songs. Then we should have dance sequences to give it Firodiya kind of feel (Firodiya Trophy is Intercollege competition in Pune of performing arts intertwined with drama).  Then there was a bomb shell: We should do it with Kids. And then we should do final play on 19^th( only 20 days in hand). A final constraint was about having two practice locations: One in Rocky Hill and other South Windsor so we needed two directors.  Facing these daunting challenges, we decided to go ahead with full devotion and faith in Ram Lalla. So we began with Jai Shree Ram slogan. Lets divide my experience which I have named as Dramayana in four stages or kands just as they say in Ramayana.

Happy Diwali

These are the times that could perplex even Einstein. Everything is Relative. Success Vs Failure, Individualism Vs Collective Will, Free Market Vs Welfare Economy, Nationalism Vs Globalization, Religion Vs Atheism,  Man Vs Climate,  Dixit Vs Divekar. Even Seasons are confused. But one thing is Absolute and Unchanged: Happiness in Diwali. Be in happy state of mind this Diwali and beyond along with  close ones.  Also make others Happy this Diwali. Happy Diwali 2019……

Judgement Day

 

In a jam-packed hall, public awaits the decision. Judges raises the Gavel:

Order! Order! Order!

And the verdict is…..

It is not a court scene out of a potboiler movie, It was a new fun filled experience for me to judge a Talent show organized for Indian community in Connecticut.

This concept based on the line of America’s got talent was implemented for the first time at DesisAroundRockyhillCT group. I was invited along with Mr Prashant Soni (Music) and Ms Kamaliaka Neogi (Dance). I represented the Drama side.  Kirti and Amol More were key organizers on behalf of Desis Group and it was a well-managed well thought about event.

I had in past judged Drama contests, Art performances, Elocution. But as a combination it was a new experience. For me the key parameters were: how good the contestant presented his talent as a package? , how well he/she connected with the  audience?  And finally how good was talent itself.

I had a deep urge to act like Anu Malik on Indian Idol.  But when putting on judging parameters on the performance of judges themselves, I am sure that would have eliminated me in the first round itself.  That’s true for many judges on mainstream who maybe have been directed to do all buffoonery on stage. This does not add up ladies and gentlemen. So my advice to some judges on mainstream is: Control …(la Nana Patekar)

Happy Dussehra

Lets try to score a perfect 10 on this Vijayadashami.  As we commonly know that the best player in the team wears number 10. So lets get best. Best is the highest you can reach in each test you appear in your life. And the best part also is that you are the examiner who will grade your own self. So being best is your choice and your own judgement. Let no one else define those standards for you. So be best, be happy and cross the limits of being good or better this Dussehra, Happy Dussehra to you.

 

अमेरिकेच्या मातीच्या कणातली वरात

अमेरिकेच्या मातीच्या कणा कणात शेक्सपिअर आहे आपले आजचे प्रमुख पाहुणे  जेंव्हा भारताच्या मातीच्या कणा कणात जातील तोच खरा सुदिन. पु ल हे ऐकून दचकतात. आपली ओळख करून देताना जर कोणी असे म्हणत असेल तर काय करावे त्यांनी ? इथे उभ्या महाराष्ट्रात  ते बघताना प्रेक्षाकांमध्ये हशा. तसाच हशा आपण त्याच अमेरिके च्या मातीत पिकवू शकू का? अमेरिकेचे सदाशिव पेठ ज्याला म्हणता येईल अश्या न्यू  इंग्लंड भागातील कनेक्टिकट राज्यात वाऱ्या वरची वरात बसवताना अनेक प्रश्न . बाकी काही म्हणा पु लंच्या साहित्यात सदाशिव पेठेला वेगळेच स्थान आहे म्हणून न्यू  इंग्लंड ला सदाशिव पेठ म्हणालो. इथले अमेरिकन लोक वेगळे आणि बाकीचे इतर असे समजतात हाही एक योगायोग

मराठी मंडळाच्या प्रतिनिधींनी व्हॉट्स ऍप्प च्या माध्यमातून दिलेल्या आव्हानाला  होय म्हणालो  खरे पण ते आपण पेलू शकु का ही शंका होती. अमेरिकेत मराठी मंडळे नेहमींच नाटके करतात. महाराष्ट्रातून अनेक रंगकर्मी इथे येऊन प्रयोग करतात. मग त्यात नवीन काय किंवा त्याबद्दल  तुम्हाला का सांगावे ? आणि असेही नाही कि आम्ही आमचे उभे आयुष्य रंगभूमीच्या उद्धाराकरिता व्यतीत गेले.  भारतातील नाटकात  थोडासा अनुभव, थोड्याशा आठवणी एवढ्याच तुटपुंजी वर आम्ही अमेरिकन नाट्यश्रुष्टीत काही क्रांती घडवून आणणार नव्हतो . मग आमच्या अमेरिकी स्टेज च्या पदार्पणाची गोष्ट का सांगावी?

कारण स्वतः पुलं नी सांगितले आहे असामीअसामी मध्ये. दिगंबर काका   म्हणतो: “ इथे ज्ञानेश्वर माऊलींनीच परमिट दिले आहे. कि राजहंसाचे चालणे असेल जगी  शहाणे म्हणून कावळ्याने चालूच नये काय?”

Dr लागू , काशिनाथ घाणेकर असतील मोठे रंगकर्मी म्हणून ह्या पुणेकर गौतमा ने  अनुभव सांगू नये  की काय?

तर करू  मी सुरवात?

Baba

बाबा ह्या विषयावर काय लिहू ?

मुळतः वडीलां वर काही लिहिणे ह्या आगाऊपणावर जरी पुलंनी व्यंग केले तरी त्याला  न जुमानत  आज ते धाडस  करतो .

पुलं च्या असामी मध्ये मास्टर शंकरचा  चा भाऊ गिर्या लिहितो आणि जे मुख्याध्यापिका सरोज खरे (आपली ) वाचतात : "आमच्या वडिलांनाआम्ही बाबा म्हणतात . माझे बाबा धोतरातून वांगी आणतात. आमचे वडील  सूट घातल्या  वर डिट्टो  अशोक कुमार दिसतात "

अशोक कुमार  सारखे जरी ते  दिसत  नसले  तरी  तरी त्यांचे नाव असलेल्या बाबांच्यात आणि त्यांच्यात एक साम्य आहे दादामुनींचे ज्येष्ठत्व चित्रपट   क्षेत्रात  जसे मानले जाते तसेच बाबांचे   ज्येष्ठत्व सर्वत्र मानले जाते. मग ते घरात असो, जवळील किंवा दोन्ही बाजूच्या लांबच्या नातेवाइकांच्यात असो , किंवा त्यांचा मित्रमंडीळीत किंवा कॉलेज मध्ये असो, किंवा वाड्यात, नवीन सोसायटीत असो किंवा माझ्या मित्रांच्या पालक ग्रुप मध्ये असो किंवा त्यांचा बागेत, आईच्या मित्रमंडळीत असो . ,  हे ज्येष्ठत्व केवळ वयामुळे नसून ते त्यांचा एकंदरीत व्यक्तिमत्वामुळे आले आहे कारण त्यांचा पेक्षा ज्येष्ठ लोकांच्या मनात त्यांच्या विषयीच्या भावना मी माझ्या लहान पाणी बघितल्या आहेत. त्यांचे ज्येष्ठ  व समवयस्क त्यांना अशोक हे संबोधन वापरताना येणारा  जिव्हाळायुक्त आदर मी जाणवला आहे.  अहो, बाबा, अशोकराव, काका, सर, आबा, कक्का हे संबोधन करणारी मंडळी तर त्यांचे फॅन क्लब आहेत. ह्या सर्वांचे सुद्धा ते मित्र बनू शकतात आणि फिलॉसॉफर, गाईड सुद्धा.

Ganapati Bappa Morya

पुढच्या वर्षी लवकर या '  असे म्हणल्यानंतर ज्या दिवसाची गेले वर्षभर आपण वाट बघत होतो तो  दिवस उजाडला.  पुढचे काही दिवस आता आनंद आणि  उत्साह व त्या आठवणींच्या शिदोरी वर पुढील वर्षाकडे जोमाने बघण्याचा प्रपंच. बघितले तर  तोच तोच पणा आणि बघितले तर नव्या आठवणी जमा करण्याच्या छंद.    माझ्याप्रमाणे  तसाच छंद असणाऱ्या तुम्हा सर्वांना गणपतीच्या  हार्दिक शुभेच्छा 

Gear Up

Two thirds of 2019 is gone and we head towards last four months of the decade. This is the time to gear up. Gear up to celebrate the festivities waiting for the remainder part of the year. Gear up to recoup after long summer and unprecedented rains, cyclones, floods. Gear up to face new challenges like economic downturn, emerging market dynamics, wars, terror, extreme polarization and so on. Gear up to meet personal goals targets that we usually plan for the next Calendar year. This calendar change would usher in the new decade of 2020s. Lot was said about 2020 as landmark in human history. But signs are dangerous as we stand precariously to let our offspring live in a world and an environment they cannot salvage to continue their existent. The latest fires in Amazon forests have led us into an irreversible situation for climate and environment. It’s high time for the world to gear up, unite and fight the things to minimize further damage, do things to help us recover the situation. As we usher in celebrations, we pray to the Lord of Wisdom and Remover of Obstacles to help us do that. Ganapati Bappa Morya