The Marathi version ‘Ashadhteel Ek Diwas’ of Rakesh Mohan’s one of the famous plays ‘Ashadh Ka Ek Din’ was staged here on Monday at Ravindra Bhawan Auditorium.
Performed by the artists of Siddhivinayak Sanstha Mumbai, the theatrical presentation was organised by Abhiruchi Marathi Sanskriti, Bhopal. Directed by Atul Pethe, the play is translated into Marathi language by Jyoti Subhah and is based on a play written by Kalidas ‘Meghdoot’ in which he described his love life with Mallika.
Ashadh ka ek din is a three-act play centered on Kalidas' life, sometime in the 100BCE-400CE period. In the first act, he is leading a peaceful life in a Himalayan village and is romantically involved with Mallika. However, he is invited to appear at King Chandragupta II's court in far-off Ujjayini.
Torn between his current idyllic existence and love on one hand, and the desire to achieve greatness on the other, he leaves for Ujjayini in a conflicted state of mind. Mallika wants the best for the man she loves, so she encourages him to go to Ujjayini.
In the second act, Kalidas has achieved fame and is married to a sophisticated noblewoman, Priyangumanjari, while Mallika is heartbroken and alone. Kalidas visits his village with his wife and a small retinue. He avoids meeting Mallika, but Priyangumanjari does.
Priyangumanjari demeaningly offers to help Mallika by making her a royal companion and marrying her to one of the royal attendants, but Mallika declines. In the third act, Kalidas reappears in the village.
Mallika is now married and has a daughter from Vilom, a kind of Villain whom Mallika and Kalidas always hated for questioning their relationship from a worldly perspective. Mallika learns that he has renounced his courtly life and the governorship of Kashmir that he had been granted. Kalidas comes to see Mallika but, learning of her situation, despairs. The play ends with him leaving her house abruptly.
The audience enjoyed the show, and appreciated the acting skills of the artists. Further, this play had already 62 shows across the country in last eight months which is another commendable factor of the play.