Collected Plays of Mahesh Elkunchwar

Collected Plays of Mahesh Elkunchwar #1

by Mahesh Elkunchwar, Shanta Gokhale, Supantha Bhattacharya

Mahesh Elkunchwar has written and produced some of the most influential and progressive plays of post-Independence India, and is part of the trinity, with Vijay Tendulkar and Satish Alekar, that has shaped modern Marathi theatre. This volume brings together six acclaimed plays-'Garbo', 'Desire in the Rocks (Vasanakand), 'Old Stone Mansion' (Wada Chirebandi), 'Reflection' (Pratibimb), 'Sonata', and 'An Actor Exits' (Eka Natacha Mrityu)-written by Elkunchwar.
Elkunchwar's plays, with their wide-ranging themes-the passage of time and mortality, identity and sexuality, religious tension and gender issues, human bonding and alienation-focus on human relationships and personal and moral choices which are the classic concerns of all great works of literature. Along with a comprehensive introduction by noted theatre critic Samik Bandyopadhyay, this volume includes production histories of each play, the playwright's notes on his intense experience with Indian theatre, and a photo section depicting stage performances.

Genres: Plays

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Mahesh Elkunchwar is an Marathi playwright, screenplay writer with more than 20 plays to his name, in addition to his theoretical writings, critical works, and his active work in India's Parallel Cinema as actor and screenwriter. Today along with Vijay Tendulkar, he is credited as one of the most influential and progressive playwrights not just in Marathi theatre, but also in Indian theatre. In 2014, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in performing arts in India.

Considered a successor to Vijay Tendulkar, Elkunchwar's plays are written in Marathi. The plays have been subsequently translated into multiple Indian and Western languages (including English, French and German).

Reviews

[Mridula Arjun · Rating 5 out of 5]

For people getting introduced to modern Indian theatre, this is the book to read. My favorites- Desire in the rocks and Reflection.

The plays will make you squirm in your seat/couch but you cannot put the book down. The plot structure, style and themes are flawless and fantastic! A must read for "theatre buffs".

[Karthik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for Indian theatre