Aasakta Kalamanch

Aasakta Kalamanch (also known popularly as Aasakta) [1] is a Pune-based theatre troupe. Its alumni include Radhika Apte, Sagar Deshmukh, Pradeep Vaidya, Ashish Mehta, Varun Narvekar, Sarang Sathaye, and Omkar Govardhan.[2]

History

Aasakta Kalamanch produces plays in Hindi, Marathi and English. It began as a non profit organisation in 2003 to produce contemporary theatre productions.[2] In 2008, it was India's entry at Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theatre.[3] It is headed by Mohit Takalkar. Sachin Kundalkar was the first playwright and his play Chhotyasha Suttit was appreciated by the critics.[4] In 2017, they performed their play Gajab Kahani, at Aadyam's third season.[5] The group recently celebrated their fifteenth anniversary by performing plays at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai.[6] In 2018, the group performed their play Tichi Satra Prakarne at IAPAR International Theatre Festival.[7]

Selective performances
  • 2010, NCPA's Centrestage Theatre Festival.[8]
  • 2013, Ranga Shankara Festival.[9]
  • 2014, National School of Drama's International Drama Festival.[10]
  • 2017, Aadyam.
  • 2018, IAPAR International Theatre Festival.
  • 2019, Sarang Theatre Festival.[11]
  • 2019, Bharat Rang Mahostav organised by National School of Drama, at Delhi.[12]

Plays
Year of first show Name Translation Plot Summary Notes
2004Chhotyasha SuttitIn a small holiday It was directed by Mohit Takalkar.[13]
2009Anandbhog Mall- The play explores the subject of casteism in India. The story revolves around a Maratha doctor and his Brahmin wife. Even after five years of marriage they still have caste biases. The play explores their relationship. [14]
Garbo- The story revolves around Garbo, an actress and her three flatmates : Shrimant, Intuc and Pansy. It was staged in the 70s and was written by Mahesh Elkunchwar.[15]
Matra RatraOnly night The story revolves around a married couple Nilu and Anju, in their late 20s.The tale spans and proceeds over 17 nights. It is an adaptation of Bradley Hayward's play, Legitimate Hooey. The play was initially performed in Marathi, but later presented in English on public demand.

[1]

2011Charshe Koti VisarbholeFour Million Forgetfuls It was written in 1986. It is set in 3985 AD and is a political satire. It tells the story of a dystopian world where workers get paid in life span. It goes on to portray the rivalry between the rich and the middle class. [16]
2012ShillakRemaining The play revolves the agony of current generation, caused by socio-economic changes. It is written by Sagar Deshmukh.[17]
2016Mukaam Dehru,Jila NagaurDestination Dehru,District Nagaur The play is set in the year 1942. The play is set in the village of Dehru, in Rajasthan. The play revolves around the Quit India Movement and the World War 2 [18]
2017Gajab Kahani- It is the story of an elephant named Solomon and its mahout, Subhro's journey from Lisbon. It is an adaptation of José Saramago's The Elephant’s Journey.[5]
Respect- The story revolves around four boys on their way to Cologne. It is based on a true incident involving honor killing. It is based on German play from 2007.It is written and directed by German actor and playwright Lutz Hübner.[19]
2018Mathemagician- It is a story set in Babylon, Greece, about Nikor, a man who becomes the chief mathematician.Nikor was played by Ipsita Chakraborty Singh, as a eunuch It is based on a script by Gowri Ramnarayan.[12]
2019ChahetaThe beloved The play revolves around Abraham,when he had to nearly sacrifice his son Isaac.It had themes from Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is based on a script by the Palestinian writer Amir Nizar Zuabi.[20]
UnknownJunglenama-
Mein Huun Yusuf Aur Ye Hai Mera BhaiI am Yusuf and this is my brother
Bandish-
Bed ke Neeche Rehne WaliThe girl who lives under the bed Ira had an imaginary friend who lived under her bed called Manu. The story progresses as Ira grows up and forgets Manu and how Manu wants to know why. [21]
Tichi Satra PrakarneHer seventeen affairs It is an adaptation of Martin Crimp's Attempts on Her Life. It is the story of a woman's multiple affairs. [22]
TuYou
Uney Purey Shahar Ek-

Recognition
  • Best Director for Mein Huun Yusuf Aur Ye Mera Bhai at 11th Mahindra Excellence for Theatre Awards (META).[23]

See also

References
  1. "Couple caper - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  2. Bari, Prachi (6 January 2019). "Meet Mohit Takalkar, the accidental director". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  3. Ghosh, Pratik (26 October 2008). "Marathi play Tu selected for international experimental festival". DNA India. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  4. Gokhale, Shanta (2010-08-28). "Vibrant tradition". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  5. "Trunks, tusks and theatre". The Hindu. 18 May 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  6. Press, Delhi (12 March 2018). The Caravan: March 2018. Delhi Press. p. 96. On its fifteenth anniversary, Aasakta Kalamanch is bringing four plays to Prithvi Theatre.
  7. "FESTIVAL 2018 – IAPAR". festival.iapar.in. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  8. Sharma, Aditi (31 October 2010). "12 new plays a taste of Dilli". Mid Day. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  9. Ravindran, Nirmala (8 October 2013). "From Yayati to Boiled Beans on Toast". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  10. "Drama Lessons 101". Millennium Post. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2019-04-04. Kamani will host Marathi play Uney Purey Shahar Ek by Aasakta Kalamanch, Pune
  11. Mallya, Vinutha (20 February 2019). "New name, new plays". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  12. Nath, Dipanita (29 January 2019). "Beyond the Number Game". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  13. "It pays to be over-dramatic today". The Times of India. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  14. Chandawarkar, Rahul (27 April 2009). "Marathi play takes unflinching look at casteism". The Times of India. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  15. "A salute to Garbo". Pune Mirror. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  16. "Time travel to 3985 AD". mid-day. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  17. "A great run of good plays in Marathi". Mumbai Mirror. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  18. "JKK Weekend Theatre". 15 December 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  19. Latkar, Ketaki (1 January 2017). "Stage ready". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  20. Mallya, Vinutha (20 February 2019). "New name, new plays". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  21. "BEDKE NEECHE REHNE WALI Hindi Play/Drama - www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com". www.mumbaitheatreguide.com. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  22. Chatterjee, Swati (25 December 2014). "Play about gay couple receives letter from the Theatre Censor Board - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  23. Ray, Shreya (1 April 2016). "Mohit Takalkar: The Minimal Master". OPEN Magazine. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.