Veterans of Nagpur city’s amateur theatre movement, who have dedicated a lifetime on stage take a stroll down memory lane and share a few pearls from their cherished treasure of experiences with me as part of The Hitavada's special series...
It was a golden era of Sangeet Natak (musical theatre) on Marathi stage when the young Madhu took a bow as Hiroji Narsala, Chhatrapati Shivaji’s loyal friend, in an one-act play ‘Gad Ala Pan Sinh Gela’ set by Jamdar School team. Eventually, he got a chance to direct the same play during the absence of its director, Darvekar Master. The attraction of bright arc lights, open stage and an eager audience developed right during the school days, is still within him.
“Watching Hirabai Badodekar, Chhota Gandharva, and the contemporary classical exponents on musical theatre enriched my world,” recalls Joshi. “Bharat Natya Mandir used to be the only destination for Nagpur’s drama-lovers those days, and as young amateur actors, it was the most happening place where we used to get a glimpse of veteran actors and singers,” he says. The vintage Dhanwate Rang Mandir, witness of glorious era of Nagpur’s stage, was inaugurated with three plays in which Joshi played important characters. His passion for the stage saw him performing challenging roles throughout his long career, and the same passion is inspiring him to carry on the journey.
“Watching others, reading books, attending lectures, used to be my sources of informal training in drama,” says Joshi, who never let himself get embroiled in the infamous ‘group politics’ of Nagpur’s amateur theatre. “I remained a maverick. All drama groups used to call me and I used to go for my love for theatre,” he says. According to him, R K Laxman’s common man , whom he portrayed on the occasion of Laxman’s felicitation in the city, was a memorable of-stage character he played. “I felicitated him as a common man, his own creation. This was memorable moment for both of us,” he mentions.
Being one of the leading actors in the city, Madhu got several opportunities to work for television and cinema. Occasionally, Joshi worked for these media too, but his true love remained the stage. Here, he played various roles – actor, director, singer and judge –still enjoying the thrill of the third bell. His role in his newest play, ‘Me Muknayak’ has been appreciated. Basically, he is very positive about the young artists and terms the present generation as the most creative one. “It’s amazing to work with these young chaps. Indeed, it’s a learning experience,” says the man who has been a great learner throughout his career.
“They (young artists) handle unconventional issues conventionally, and dare to do the unexpected on stage. I must appreciate their courage,” the proud senior says. “However, like a good cook first concentrates on taste and quality of food; and then looks at the decoration; youngsters should concentrate on basic theatrical ethics before experimenting with them,” is his only ‘friendly’ suggestion to youths.
Proud witness to three generations of the city’s theatre, Madhu Joshi’s looks belie his age, the late seventies. Positive thinking, he says, is the only key to his fitness. “An actor’s life is dedicated to the people. He has to maintain decorum, keep himself fit, tight; not only for himself, but also for those who love watching him on stage,” says the veteran actor, who nowadays, is enjoying the on-stage company of youngsters being groomed under his guidance.‘Vikram Chandra Gokhale’ the nine-year-old artist scribbled in college-going Madhu Joshi’s autograph book some fifty-five years back. “His father, who was playing a lead in the play, asked me why I was insisting on the autograph of the young boy who had a very small role to play. I told him that the autograph was for the future as his talented son was going to become a great actor. The man laughed at me that time, but today, we know the kid as Vikram Gokhale and I have his first autograph in my treasure,” says Madhu Joshi proudly. Blessed with the rare skill of identifying the artistic spark, the man is celebrating his platinum jubilee this year with a smile of contentment on his face.
It was a golden era of Sangeet Natak (musical theatre) on Marathi stage when the young Madhu took a bow as Hiroji Narsala, Chhatrapati Shivaji’s loyal friend, in an one-act play ‘Gad Ala Pan Sinh Gela’ set by Jamdar School team. Eventually, he got a chance to direct the same play during the absence of its director, Darvekar Master. The attraction of bright arc lights, open stage and an eager audience developed right during the school days, is still within him.
“Watching Hirabai Badodekar, Chhota Gandharva, and the contemporary classical exponents on musical theatre enriched my world,” recalls Joshi. “Bharat Natya Mandir used to be the only destination for Nagpur’s drama-lovers those days, and as young amateur actors, it was the most happening place where we used to get a glimpse of veteran actors and singers,” he says. The vintage Dhanwate Rang Mandir, witness of glorious era of Nagpur’s stage, was inaugurated with three plays in which Joshi played important characters. His passion for the stage saw him performing challenging roles throughout his long career, and the same passion is inspiring him to carry on the journey.
“Watching others, reading books, attending lectures, used to be my sources of informal training in drama,” says Joshi, who never let himself get embroiled in the infamous ‘group politics’ of Nagpur’s amateur theatre. “I remained a maverick. All drama groups used to call me and I used to go for my love for theatre,” he says. According to him, R K Laxman’s common man , whom he portrayed on the occasion of Laxman’s felicitation in the city, was a memorable of-stage character he played. “I felicitated him as a common man, his own creation. This was memorable moment for both of us,” he mentions.
Being one of the leading actors in the city, Madhu got several opportunities to work for television and cinema. Occasionally, Joshi worked for these media too, but his true love remained the stage. Here, he played various roles – actor, director, singer and judge –still enjoying the thrill of the third bell. His role in his newest play, ‘Me Muknayak’ has been appreciated. Basically, he is very positive about the young artists and terms the present generation as the most creative one. “It’s amazing to work with these young chaps. Indeed, it’s a learning experience,” says the man who has been a great learner throughout his career.
“They (young artists) handle unconventional issues conventionally, and dare to do the unexpected on stage. I must appreciate their courage,” the proud senior says. “However, like a good cook first concentrates on taste and quality of food; and then looks at the decoration; youngsters should concentrate on basic theatrical ethics before experimenting with them,” is his only ‘friendly’ suggestion to youths.
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| The cutting of the same article published in The Hitavada on March 28, 2011 |
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