07/08/2022
ऐतिहासिक नाटक "रायगडाला जेव्हा जाग येते"
Reveiw written by Abhiram Matkar ....
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।। श्री गणेशाय नमः ।। ।। श्री सरस्वत्यै नमः ।।
।। श्री नटेश्वराय नमः ।। ।। जय आई जगदंब ।।
*"Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete"*
*"रायगडाला जेव्हा जाग येते"*
After two years (due to Pandemic Covid-19) *Sanand Nyas Phulora* in the Presidentship of *Shri Shrinivas ji Kutumble* and in the Honorary Secretariat of *Shri Jayant ji Bhise* is conducting its Annual Marathi Play Competition *"Sanand Marathi Natya Spardha"* from August 1, 2022 to August 10, 2022 daily at 7:00 pm in the UCC-Auditorium (DAVV Campus), Khandwa Road, Indore, (MP).
On August 5, 2022 in the above mentioned Competition *Shri Ahilya Natya Mandal* showcased drama *Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete*. An Historical Drama, historical in the sense that its drama is carved out of history. *Written* by Great Marathi Dramatist *Shri Vasant Kanetkar*, beautifully and very efficiently *Directed* by *Shri Sunil Dr Ganesh Matkar* the story of drama was based in the Maratha Regime of *Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj*.
Though the mighty name of the play suggests that it is composed with war and action but on the contrary the story is purely based on the relationship of a Son with his Father.
In order to know the values of a Great social life, history looks into the biographies of Great men, but somewhat detachedly. It doesn't look into the fine, tender, melodious springs of humanity that flows within those nobles. The Art is exactly the opposite, so where history stops, the research for Art begins. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Prince Shambhuraje are the favorite ideals of Marathi minds, but while looking at the last four years of Shivaji's life, it seems that time has created a great tragedy of events that happened in the lives of these great Father and Son. This shows that they were after all humans as well. This Play is a heart touching attempt in Marathi theater to find a human being through their great personalities and varied achievements.
In Shri Ahilya Natya Mandal's performance of the Play, *"Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete"* the commencement of the First Act began with the poem based on *"Hindavi Swarajya"* recited by *Shri Kishore Poorkar (Mumbai)*, which opened the First Applause for the Play among the several.
In the Play, the Part of *Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj* the Emperor of the Maratha Empire and the Founder of Hindavi Swarajya, was played by Senior Theatre Artist *Shri Gajanand Khonde* who bagged several applause from the respectable audience in his almost every Scene.
The part of *Shambhuraje*, Elder Son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Crown Prince of Maratha Empire, was wholly and thoroughly brought to justice by the rising young talented artist and obedient disciple of *Ahilya Shahir Late Dr Ganesh S Matkar* *Er. Chinmaya Sunil Matkar* in the guidance of a very experienced, senior and well known Director *Shri Sunil Ganesh Matkar*.
*Mrs Ruhi Gandhe Naik* beautifully executed the slightly negative role of *Soyrabai* the Second wife of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Her subtle expressions and prompt body language were few among the many reasons to cherish.
The role of *Yesubai*, wife of Shambhuraje was enacted by another young talented artist of Shri Ahilya Natya Mandal *Ar Sangama Kulkarni*. Her realistic cool, calm and composed performance who always consoled and counselled Shambhuraje completely depicted the real nature of Yesubai who was exactly the main uniting factor of the Chhatrapati's family.
Parts of *Hambirrao* (Brother of Soyrabai and Senior Official of Maratha Empire), *Annaji* (Administrative Officer of the Maratha Empire), *Moropant* (Administrative Officer of the Maratha Empire) were played by Talented Artists of Shri Ahilya Natya Mandal, *Shri Shubhashish Vaidya*, *Shri Tushar Dharmadhikari* and *Shri Devendra Khairikar* respectively. All these short but very important roles were brought to justice by these talented artists with their good on the spot timing, prompt dialogue delivery with proper voice modulations.
Last but not the least, the part of *Ramraje* was fearlessly executed by the rising and extremely talented Child Artist of Shri Ahilya Natya Mandal, *Ms Bhumi Kulkarni* in the constant supervision of Shri Sunil Ganesh Matkar, who very much impressed the audience with her natural acting skills, on stage awareness and good coordination with the fellow actors.
*Stage and Art Direction* was held by Senior Theatre Art Designer *Shri Devendra Khairikar*. His beautiful work of Stage Designing of interior of ancient Maratha Fort of Raigad didn't need any other person's appreciation as the respectable audience was the living example who gave a warm and very loud applause on the first look to his impeccable Stage Design as soon as the curtain unveiled for the start of the first Act. *Shri Bhushan Dixit*, *Mst Yash Sarwate* and *Mst Yash Parkhi* were a great aide of help to him.
According to Paul Lynde, "A room is like a stage. If you see it without lighting, it can be the coldest place in the world."
It's true, stages, concerts, theatres, all of shows and plays need *Lighting*, without lighting, you lose the reality effects, and everything looks fake, and this task was astonishingly executed by another young talent of Shri Ahilya Natya Mandal, *Shri Gaurav Bhavsar* and talented elder son of Shri Sunil Ganesh Matkar, *Shri Yatish Sunil Matkar*. Their impeccable Light Effects garnished the work of Stage Design and made it look more realistic than ever. The colorful and beautiful Lights hold the audience till the end of the play and make the set much attractive.
*Sound and Background Music* was given by Talented, Young and Creative Musician of Shri Ahilya Natya Mandal, *Er Rutvik Poorkar*. Rutvik also known as "Jai Hind" in our Group is the Nephew of another very talented and Senior Artist *Shri Kishore Poorkar* who is now based in Mumbai and is a well known name in the field of Voice Acting and Voice Modulation. He has Narrated several Marathi TV shows and has given his voice to several OTT platforms mentioning his very few accolades among many of his Career. Stepping in the shoes of his respectable and loving Uncle, Rutvik was also flawless in providing BG Music and Score to the Play "Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete". His prompt alertness of his sound tracks was the key factor in the smooth and efficient running of the Play which also added an extra pinch of reality to the Play.
Regarding *Costumes-Props and Make-up*, this department was held by *Mrs Anita Sunil Matkar* and *Shri Deepak Pawar* respectively. The Glittering Colorful costumes and appropriate props were designed and chosen very carefully for the actors to enact the exact 17th Century look of the people in the Maratha Regime. Make-up was done by Shri Deepak Pawar which enhanced the sharp facial features of the actors with balanced contrast and highlights resembling the ancient look of the actors as people from the 17th Century of the Maratha Empire.
Hence, in the concluding statements I would like to quote the words of Legendary Dramatist and Poet *"the Bard of Avon" William Shakespeare*, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts." This statement is beautifully justified in this Play in the characters of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Prince Shambhuraje who played several parts in their entire lives some of them they played splendidly but in some parts they struggled which is absolutely not a big issue as it reflected the humanism flowing through these Great men.
*Credits : -*
Presenting in the Loving Memory of *"Ahilya Shahir" Late Dr Ganesh Shankarrao Matkar* who was, is and will forever be our Inspiration.
Special thanks to *Smt Kalavati Dr Ganesh Matkar*.
Written by - *Shri Vasant Kanetkar*
Directed by - *Shri Sunil Dr Ganesh Matkar*
Produced by - *Shri Vipin Dr Ganesh Matkar* and *Mrs Rupali Rudra Dubey*
Cast -
*Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj* - *Shri Gajanand Khonde*
*Soyrabai* - *Mrs Ruhi Gandhe Naik*
*Shambhuraje (Sambhaji)* - *Er Chinmaya Sunil Matkar*
*Yesubai* - *Ar Sangama Kulkarni*
*Hambirrao* - *Shri Shubhashish Vaidya*
*Annaji* - *Shri Tushar Dharmadhikari*
*Moropant* - *Shri Devendra Khairikar*
*Ramraje (Rajaram)* - *Ms Bhumi Kulkarni*
Stage and Art Direction - *Shri Devendra Khairikar*
Assistants - *Shri Bhushan Dixit, Mst Yash Sarwate, Mst Yash Parkhi*
Lighting - *Shri Gaurav Bhavsar* and *Shri Yatish Sunil Matkar*
Sound & BG Music - *Er Rutvik Poorkar*
Costumes & Props - *Mrs Anita Sunil Matkar*
Make-up - *Shri Deepak Pawar*
Special Consultants - *Shri Kishore Poorkar (Mumbai), Shri Rajesh Chandolikar, Mrs Madhavi Rajesh Chandolikar, Shri Sanjaya Kulkarni, Mrs Payal Pandit Sharma*
Stage Management - *Dr Pankaj Upadhyaya, Shri Sujit Kulkarni, Shri Pankaj Kulkarni, Shri Nitin Kulkarni*
Coordinator - *Shri Shirish Parkhi*
Stage Decoration - *Ms Malvika Kulkarni, Ms Dhruvi Khairikar*
Photographs by - *Shri Lokesh Chormare, Er Pranaya Holkar, Er Krutika Pingle, Er Amol Pingle, Shri Abhishek Desai*
- Abhiram Vipin Matkar
(S/o Shri Vipin Dr Ganesh Matkar and Mrs Arpana Vipin Matkar)
