Sangeet Saubhadra

 

Director and Editor – Nipun Dharmadhikari

Screenplay and Music – Late Annasaheb Kirloskar

Background Score – Aditya Oak

Cast – Anand Bhate, Rahul Deshpande, Ajay Purkar, Priyanka Barve, Deepti Mate, Chinmay Pataskar, Anuja Vartak & Tejas Dandagaval

          ‘Sangeet Saubhadra’ was first staged in the year 1882 by Annasaheb Kirloskar. Being one of the earliest known musicals of Marathi theatre, the play is based on a classic tale from the Mahabharat. The team of Rahul Deshpande and Nipun Dharmadhikari has given it a fresh lease of life.  

          On his way to pilgrimage, Arjun (Ajay Purkar) is informed about the marriage preparations of his lady love Subhadra (Priyanka Barve), to his arch rival Duryodhan, by the divine sage Narad (Rahul Deshpande). Arjun is devastated by the news and decides to end his life. Narad advises him against it and gives him a solution. Meanwhile, Subhadra is kidnapped by Ghatotkatch (Tejas Dandagaval) on the orders of Krishna (Anand Bhate) only to be returned to Dwaraka after her brief encounter with Arjun.

          Subhadra was neither able to recognize Arjun nor remember what happened to her. This results in the marriage being postponed. However Balaram (Chinmay Pataskar) is keen on only having Duryodhan as her groom. Rukumini (Deepti Mate) is furious with Krishna for not doing anything for his sister. Krishna devises a strategy to help Arjun who enters the Dwarka palace in disguise of a sage. Does it work?? For the answer watch the play.

          Ajay Purkar fits perfectly into the role of Arjun. He is mesmerising as an actor as well as a singer. Priyanka Barve has improved considerably in her acting skills as compared to Sanshaykallol. Anand Bhate steals the show with the renditions of ‘Nabha Meghani Akramile’ and ‘Priye Paha’. Rahul Deshpande manages to entertain you with ‘Radhadhar Madhu Milind’ despite his small on-screen presence. Deepti Mate, Anuja Vartak and Tejas Dandagaval provide valuable support.

          Nipun Dharmadhikari has directed the play brilliantly. Seldom does a director live up to your expectations in every venture that he undertakes. Set is kept simple. However Keyur Godse needs to add a little to it. Amey Pendharkar’s use of lights is excellent whereas Kalyani Kulkarni gets full marks for costumes. Song after song leaves the audience asking for more. As such Rahul Gole and Nikhil Phatak deserve a special mention.

          I am going with four and a half stars out of five for Nipun Dharmadhikari’s ‘Sangeet Saubhadra’. Let’s be a witness to another spectacular musical.