The circle of life begins with birth and ends with death but those who wish to overrule and fight death, ultimately come up as winners and are remembered for their courage. Exhibiting the zest and zeal of a theatre personality who had a close encounter with life and death, Mahaprasthan - a play based on the theme of mercy killing (euthanasia or good death) is currently making news in the theatre world.
The play recently caught the attention of the media after it was staged as the opening play at the fourth edition of Manohar Singh Memorial National Theatre Festival in Shimla where it received an overwhelming response from an over-packed audience.
Organised by the Department of Art, Language and Culture as well as the government of Himachal Pradesh the theatre festival staged five plays from across India during 16 to 21 September including Mahaprasthan.
Written and directed by noted theatre actor and director Afsar Hussain, the play - Mahaprasthan meaning ‘the ultimate journey' - revolves around the topic of mercy killing. In Afsar's words, "Hosting the theatre festival in Manohar Singh's memory is like offering him a tribute for keeping the theatre tradition alive." There's a reason why Afsar says this - incidentally, the play is based on the best of Manohar Singh's works, his devotion to art and his struggle with cancer.
"Manohar Singh can be truly called the ‘Natsamrat' (King of Drama) of Hindi theatre. Mahaprasthan is my salute to this exemplary artist of extraordinary calibre. A graduate from National School of Drama (NSD) New Delhi this noted theatre and film personality of India had experienced very closely the tough battle between unresisting desire to end his suffering and an equally strong will to survive and live on a life full of vigour," quips Afsar.
Featuring eminent theatre artists from Goa, this award winning play has been staged successfully in National Theatre Festivals at Goa, Mumbai, Bhopal and Shimla. The Hindi version of Mahaprasthan was played in Goa before it represented the state for the Rashtriya Hindi Natya Samaroh, a national level festival that plays a huge role in popularising drama performances in the national language.
Produced by the prominent theatre group in Goa, ‘Rudreshwar, Panaji', the play has been awarded best play, best direction, best actor, best set, best music and best light in Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Natak Spardha organised by Maharashtra government and Kala Academy, Goa.
The others plays in the festival were, Lassanwallah directed by Hemant Pandey (Mumbai), I love you too directed by Sanjay Jha (Mumbai), Nayan Bhari Talayeeyan presented by theatre group from Kullu, Himachal. The last play Kedar Shinde's adaptation of the Marathi play Sahi re Sahi- Raju Raja Ram aur Main featured noted Bollywood actor Sharman Joshi.
"Mahaprasthan was the opening play of the festival and we got overwhelming response from the audience that overflew the theatre hall with seating capacity of 700 and more than that seating and standing, while watching the play on a large screen put up outside the theatre," recollects Afsar, adding, "There were 100 entries, and the committee selected five plays from among theses. It was a proud moment when we were one of the five that got ultimately selected, and ours was the opening play."
He elaborates about the play which was first staged in Marathi and it bagged the first awards in all categories in 30 plays. "There were houseful shows in Mumbai. We also played its Hindi version in Bhopal. It got selected for the national festival too before being chosen for the Himachal Pradesh. Mahaprasthan has also received offers for participating in festivals at Bikaner, Ranchi and Kullu," briefs Afsar.
Mahaprasthan's team comprises of 14 talented Goan artists, all of whom are working as professionals in their own respective fields but are connected to the play for their passion towards the theatre art. The main role is cast by Deepak Amoncar, principal of Hedgewar High School, Panaji while other characters too come from various service sectors. "Our team is dedicated to art and committed to theatre," shares Afsar who is associated with Rudreshwar Panaji for a decade.
Marked as the most prestigious, popular and the only theatre in Shimla, Gaiety is known for the stage performance by some of the celebrity actors from Bollywood, like Anupam Kher, Balraj Sahni, Rajesh Khanna and Preity Zinta. "It was in 1862 that the Amateur Drama Association was kick started in Shimla and to be able to perform on this historical and prestigious stage is itself a thing to celebrate," feels Afsar.
