Saubhagya Sundari

Saubhagya Sundari (pronounced [sɒʊb'hɑːɡj sʊndʌriː]) is a Gujarati play, originally written by Nathuram Shukla and then rewritten by Mulshankar Mulani. It starred Bapulal Nayak and Jaishankar Bhojak in lead roles, the later started his acting career with this play in Gujarati theatre.[1] It was produced by Mumbai Gujarati Natak Mandali in 1901.

Bapulal Nayak as Saubhagyasinh and Jaishankar Bhojak as Sundari in Saubhagyasundari, 1901
Written byMulshankar Mulani and Nathuram Shukla
Characters
  • Saubhagyasinh
  • Sundari
  • Madhavsinh
  • Sundarsen
  • Kumati
Date premiered19 October 1901
Place premieredGaiety Theatre, Mumbai
Original languageGujarati

History

The play was originally written by Nathuram Sundarji Shukla, a Gujarati poet. On the request of Mumbai Gujarati Natak Mandali, it was rewritten by Mulshankar Mulani. Mulani majorly modified all the aspects of this play like prose, poetry, major events, characterization, style etc. Thus, generally Mulani is regarded as the author of the play. The play was first performed at Gaiety Theatre on 19 October 1901.[2] The play is influenced by William Shakespeare's Othello.[3]

The play was published as a book in Gujarati titled Saubhagyasundari ane Bija Natakonu Navneet, in 1951 by Sastu Sahityavardhak Karyalay, Ahmedabad.[2]

Plot
From left Surajram Nayak, Bapulal Nayak, Jatashankar Oza, Vaghji Barot and Manilal Kastur in Saubhagya Sundari, 1923

Saubhagyasinh is the son of king Chatursinh of Durgeshnagar, who lost in river. Sundari is the daughter of Sundarsen. Once, in a garden, Saubhagyasinh saves Sundari from a madly rushing elephant, and they fall in love with each other. Kumati, a step-mother of Sundari, raises obstacles in their marriage. Madhavsinh, friend of Saubhagyasinh, help them and arrange their marriage.[2]

Legacy

Jaishankar Bhojak's role as Sundari became very popular, and he earned his sobriquet, Sundari ('pretty woman'), for the lifetime.[4] The play was adapted into the 1933 Indian silent film Saubhagya Sundari directed by Homi Master, starring Dinshaw Bilimoria and Jillo.[5]

References
  1. Hansen, Kathryn (29 August 1998). "Stri Bhumika Female Impersonators and Actresses on the Parsi Stage". Economic and Political Weekly. 33 (35): 2294 – via EPW.(subscription required)
  2. Bhojak, Dinkar (January 2009). Thaker, Dhirubhai (ed.). ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ [Gujarati Encyclopedia] (in Gujarati). XXIV. Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust. pp. 113–114. OCLC 837900118.
  3. Mehta, Chandravadan (1994). "Shakespeare and Gujarati Stage". Indian Literature. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. 7 (1): 47. JSTOR 23329678.(subscription required)
  4. Hansen, Kathryn (2015). "Performing Gender and Faith in Indian Theater Autobiographies". In Anshu Malhotra; Siobhan Lambert-Hurley (eds.). Speaking of the Self: Gender, Performance, and Autobiography in South Asia. Duke University Press. p. 245. ISBN 978-0-8223-7497-8.
  5. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 303. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
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