The Bhopal theatre artistes received a standing ovation while giving the performance at Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2015. The theatre buffs of New Delhi were overwhelmed with the spontaneous performance given by the artistes of Bhopal. A Hindi play Please Mat Jao was staged at an annual theatre festival of National School of Drama’s (NSD) Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
Directed by a renowned theatre artiste of the city Anoop Joshi, the play was performed by Third Bell, Bhopal at lTG Theatre, New Delhi. The play is adapted from two stories originally written in Marathi by Vijay Tendulkar as Ratra and Kalekh. Further, these two stories were translated into Hindi by a senior theatre artist Uday Shahne as Anudit and Punsarjit. These stories were performed as Please Mat Jao that was staged in Bharat Rang Mahotsav on Tuesday.
The play showcases two different perspectives of two different people and the destiny tests them in different ways. The unassuming, but intelligent beloved, who has been deserted by a man for a rich girl, is leading a listless life. After some years, the same boy after divorcing the rich girl returns to her and proposes to start afresh. But when he realises that she is still in bad shape, he rejects her again and leaves her.
After some years, he lands in red light area while looking for a mechanic for his broken car. He meets a girl there, who claims to be rural girl and gentle lady. She requests him to save her and provide shelter for a night. He agrees and brings her home. Soon he falls for her. But next morning, the girl reveals her true identity as a prostitute and tells him that she just wanted to experience how homely life feels, rejects him and goes away.
The lead character was played by Anoop Joshi. Interestingly, years before, this character was played by Chandrahas Tiwari. The play was further adorned with the music of Tagore, O Henry, Bowl and Bidesia by Morris lazras and light design by Tanaji Rao. The ending of the play became an emotional moment when the actors actually began crying. It was a mesmerising moment for the audience as well as the artistes.