Theatre Review: Aashadhatil Ek Divas

Play:Aashadhatil Ek Divas
Director:Atul Pethe
Duration: 135 mins
Cast:Alok Rajwade, Parna Pethe, Jyoti Subhash, Ketaki Vilas, Om Bhutkar and others
Language: Marathi
Rating: ***
What would you do if the person you have loved all your life, puts his desire to achieve greatness before love and goes away in its pursuit to a far off land, albeit in a rather confused state of mind? Would you wait all your life or would you move on? 'Aashadhatil Ek Divas' revolves around these questions as the story of the great poet Kalidas and his love interest Mallika unfolds before the audience through three stages of their lives.
The three-act play is a Marathi adaptation of Mohan Rakesh’s Hindi play 'Aashadh Ka Ek Din' which has been translated by Jyoti Subhash. Jyoti also essays the role of Mallika’s mother Ambika in the play. The play takes you through Kalidas’ transformation to Matrugupta and the bubbly Mallika transformation to a typical housewife. What remains common to the two lovers is their love for each other even after Kalidas gets married to a noblewoman named Priyangumanjari and Mallika to Kalidas’ rival Vilom.
Jyoti Subhash’s portrayal of the concerned mother and later that of an ailing old-woman is as flawless as her translation of the play. Parna as the young Mallika goes a little over the edge in showing enthusiasm but gets into the groove as the play unfolds. Alok Rajwade delivers well as Kalidas and should’ve had more time on stage. But it is Om Bhutkar’s portrayal of Vilom that steals the show. With him on stage, you become completely unaware of the presence of other actors until they speak. His drunken confrontation with Kalidas before the climax scene is a treat to watch.
Overall, the play is technically sound with good light effects, music, set and costume design and makeup but it could have been made more crisp by doing away with the silence between dialogues.