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May 2025

Perception

By C. N. Vaze, Chartered Accountant
Reading Time 3 mins

Marathi Theatre has a rich tradition of more than 150 years.

It is very vibrant and progressive. In the good old days, purely ‘prose’ plays were very rare. There used to be 20 to 100 songs in a play – based on classical music. The shows often lasted overnight. It was known as ‘Sangeet Rang-Bhoomi’.

There were drama companies (Natak mandalis). Like we have in the circus today, the whole troop stayed and moved together like a family. Play wrights, actors, directors, musicians, singers, drapers, make-up men, helpers and so on. Many stayed with their families in the troops!

Weddings used to happen within the troops, and children also were born! It was a fascinating world, and many people are still having nostalgic memories of that era.

Shri Ram Ganesh Gadkari was the most prominent dramatist of his time. The square at Shivaji Park, Dadar, is named after him. He has written many short stories which are quite humorous.

As said earlier, a kid was born in a drama troop and did not have the occasion to see the outside world at all. The drama troop, travel and performances were the only experience that he had in life.

Once, the owner of the mandali was invited to attend a wedding. He was busy somewhere else.

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