A Hindi play ‘Maati Gadi’ was staged here on Monday at Ravindra Bhavan Auditorium.
The play is an adaptation of a Sanskrit play Mricchakatika written by Hrishikesh Sulabh. Directed by Sanjay Upadhyay the play was presented by Madhya Pradesh Theatre Academy, Bhopal.
Based on the love story of Charudutta and Vasantsena, the play shows an awful picture of the urge for power and for this a person can do anything.
It is an Indian folk form of theatrical plays, presented in a traditional format leaving the audiences mesmerized.
Happily married and the recent father of a young son, Charudatta is charmed with Vasantasena, a courtesan of great wealth and reputation. After a chance encounter at the temple of Rama, she has found that she loves him in return, though the matter is complicated when Vasantasena finds herself pursued by Samsthanaka, brother-in-law of King Palaka. When the men threaten violence, Vasantasena flees, seeking safety with Charudatta.
Their love blossoms following the clandestine meeting and the courtesan entrusts her new lover with a casket of jewelry in an attempt to ensure a future meeting. Various incidents that took place in their venture formed rest of the story.
Writer Hrishikesh Sulabh wrote it as Maati Gadi, in Bhojpuri in the Bidesia style, the most popular theatre form in Bihar. Now, theatre director Sanjay Upadhyaya staged it in the Bidesia format. Upadhyaya has turned it into a complete musical by bringing in the tabla, harmonium, dhol, sarangi and manjira. There are more than 20 songs in different gayaki styles. The audiences enjoyed the play whole heartedly.