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Aasakta Kalamanch

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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

[edit]

Aasakta Kalamanch produces plays in Marathi, Hindi, Urdu 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.[4] Sachin Kundalkar was the first playwright and his play Chhotyasha Suttit was appreciated by the critics.[5] In 2017, they performed their play Gajab Kahani, at Aadyam's third season.[6] The group recently celebrated their fifteenth anniversary by performing plays at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai.[7] In 2018, the group performed their play Tichi Satra Prakarne at IAPAR International Theatre Festival.[8]

Selective performances

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  • 2010, NCPA's Centrestage Theatre Festival.[9]
  • 2013, Ranga Shankara Festival.[10]
  • 2014, National School of Drama's International Drama Festival.[11]
  • 2017, Aadyam.
  • 2018, IAPAR International Theatre Festival.
  • 2019, Sarang Theatre Festival.[12]
  • 2019, Bharat Rang Mahostav organised by National School of Drama, at Delhi.[13]

Plays

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Year of first show Name Translation Plot Summary Notes
2004 Chhotyasha Suttit In a small holiday It was directed by Mohit Takalkar.[14]
2009 Anandbhog 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. [15]
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.[16]
Matra Ratra Only 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]

2011 Charshe Koti Visarbhole Four 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. [17]
2012 Shillak Remaining The play revolves the agony of current generation, caused by socio-economic changes. It is written by Sagar Deshmukh.[18]
2015 Mein Huun Yusuf Aur Ye Hai Mera Bhai I am Yusuf and this is my brother It is based on the UN resolution on Palestine. The play has won the Best Production, Best Director and Best Innovative Sound Design awards at Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META).Its directed by Mohit Takalkar. [19]
2016 Mukaam Dehru, Jila Nagaur Destination 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 [20]
2017 Gajab 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.[6]
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.[21]
2018 Mathemagician – 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.[13]
2019 Chaheta The 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.[22]
2023 Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta It is a Marathi adaptation of UK-based playwright Sam Steiner’s ‘Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons’. The story is set in a world where people can only speak 140 words every day — a comment on state control over basic freedoms. [19]
Unknown Junglenama –
Bandish –
Bed ke Neeche Rehne Wali The 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. [23]
Tichi Satra Prakarne Her seventeen affairs It is an adaptation of Martin Crimp's Attempts on Her Life. It is the story of a woman's multiple affairs. [24]
Tu You
Uney Purey Shahar Ek –

Recognition

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  • Best Director for Mein Huun Yusuf Aur Ye Mera Bhai at 11th Mahindra Excellence for Theatre Awards (META).[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Couple caper – Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ "When life gives you ghanta". Mid-day. 2024-03-17. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  5. ^ Gokhale, Shanta (2010-08-28). "Vibrant tradition". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  6. ^ a b "Trunks, tusks and theatre". The Hindu. 18 May 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "FESTIVAL 2018 – IAPAR". festival.iapar.in. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  9. ^ Sharma, Aditi (31 October 2010). "12 new plays a taste of Dilli". Mid Day. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  10. ^ Ravindran, Nirmala (8 October 2013). "From Yayati to Boiled Beans on Toast". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  11. ^ "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
  12. ^ Mallya, Vinutha (20 February 2019). "New name, new plays". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  13. ^ a b Nath, Dipanita (29 January 2019). "Beyond the Number Game". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  14. ^ "It pays to be over-dramatic today". The Times of India. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  15. ^ Chandawarkar, Rahul (27 April 2009). "Marathi play takes unflinching look at casteism". The Times of India. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  16. ^ "A salute to Garbo". Pune Mirror. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  17. ^ "Time travel to 3985 AD". mid-day. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  18. ^ "A great run of good plays in Marathi". Mumbai Mirror. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  19. ^ a b "March 14-20 in Delhi: Mohit Takalkar's play 'Ghanta…' among top 10 at Mahindra theatre awards". The Indian Express. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  20. ^ "JKK Weekend Theatre". 15 December 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  21. ^ Latkar, Ketaki (1 January 2017). "Stage ready". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  22. ^ Mallya, Vinutha (20 February 2019). "New name, new plays". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  23. ^ "BEDKE NEECHE REHNE WALI Hindi Play/Drama - www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com". www.mumbaitheatreguide.com. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Ray, Shreya (1 April 2016). "Mohit Takalkar: The Minimal Master". OPEN Magazine. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
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