Play @ Prithvi theatre Juhu

One of my close friend, told me, “Jignesh, watching a play at Prithvi is a unique experience. If possible do watch a play at Prithvi as now you would be in Mumbai”.

Prithvi Threate (http://www.prithvitheatre.org/home.php)
The theatre was built by the Bollywood’s famous Prithiviraj Kapoor and currently managed by his youngest son Shashi Kapoor. It is located at Juhu, Vile Parle(W). It seems that the theatre provides platform for upcoming artists to conduct stage shows in form of play. The rates charged at theatre are nominal and they run different shows on non-profit basis.

In order to avoid inconvenience and a possibility of a house-full show, I booked the tickets online when I went to see my first play at Prithvi(“Haath Ka Aaya... Shunya”). Along with my friend(roommate) I reached the venue 15-20 minutes before the showtime. At the booking window, I showed the printout and they gave me ticket which was not having any seat number. I thought that as audience would be less so there is no need for a numbered-ticket. But to my dismay when I entered the theatre, it was almost packed 90% full. The capacity of the theatre would be around 150-180, and the first three rows near the stage are in ‘C’ shape and the other area which I would term as balcony is having around 5-6 straight rows. The seating arrangement consists of cushioned seats without any partition, which means that the number of persons seating in any row may vary ;-) depending on size of the people ;-P The entry to the theatre is very strict, I mean to say, late comers are not entertained and not allowed to enter after the show starts. The lightning arrangement, acoustics, ambiance and seating comfort is laudable.

Play#1 “Haath Ka Aaya... Shunya” - Hindi
The play includes three parallel stories. 1) Couple and their idea of using Naal(Horse shoe) 2) A group of clowns 3) Two members who sit with the audience.

More information can be read from the review. Url is
http://www.filmimpressions.com/stage/2010/12/review-haath-ka-aaya-shunya.html

Play#2 “Mahadevbhai (1892-1942)” - English
I went on my bike to watch this play. Google maps show the distance 10.3 km from my place Malad to Prithvi theatre and in the peak hours i.e evening 6:00 pm I was just thinking as how much time would it take to reach the place. But because of my good driving skills and a bit of luck, I was able to reach in time.

Before heading for the play my friend who is a scrip writer in Mumbai had invited me to watch the rehearsal of his upcoming Gujarati natak. The rehearsal was at Bhavan’s College at Andheri. They had booked the 8th floor of SPIT building for the rehearsal. It was wonderful to visit a college campus in Mumbai. The crew of the play were seating in a semi-circle were rehearsing their dialogues with the director at the centre. It seemed that the director had memorized the entire scrip...if anyone skip any part of dialogue or if anyones way of speaking is not suited as the situation demands, then the director interrupts and correct it. Really enjoyed it :-)

My roommate has already reached the venue for the play ‘Mahadevbhai’ and collected the tickets. Good to have such friends who are punctual. As it was a weekday, the show was only 50% full(and not 50% empty). It is a one-person play(Jaimini Pathak) which attempts to remind us of the times that were, and of its characters' devotion to truth. The duration was around 60-70 minutes and it requires real stamina n confidence to perform alone for such a long duration. Mahadev Desai was Mahatma Gandhi's secretary from 1917 to 1942. During this period, Mahadevbhai maintained a daily diary. In this diary, he jotted down the innumerable letters to and by Gandhiji, as well as conversations and bantering, lectures and discourses. For those who likes history then I am sure then they would love this play. The play touches upon the lives of Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, Ambedkar, VallabhBhai Patel. The play attempts to understand the thoughts and principles that Gandhiji stood for; principles that are even more relevant in today’s world “non-violence, economic processes that favour the poorest of the poor, religious tolerance, removal of untouchability & discrimination, the status of women”.

After the end of the play, we could see a notable theatre personality Makarand Deshpande.Looks really crazy with his curly hairstyle.

The next day when I did some search for “Mahadevbhai” on internet, I was amazed to see that Narayan Desai, son of Mahadevbhai Desai tells “Gandhi Katha” and this katha is a big draw in Gandhinagar these days. I am impressed with Mahatma Gandhiji.... Bole to... Bapu rocks :-)

Train: Berth#6 Vs Berth#3

Some good to know facts about Indian Railways, its the worlds largest employer(wiki mentions as 16 lac employees). India is the only country which has a “Railway Budget”. During the past 5-6 years I extensively used the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route which is considered to be the busiest train route in the world.

It was a Friday late night 11:30 PM train from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. The train route follows. Mumbai-Borivali-Surat-Bharuch-Vadodara(Baroda)-Ahmedabad. I had a confirmed ticket in the second sleeper coach and my berth number was 6 which means the upper berth. It always feels relaxed when seat is confirmed and even more better if its not the side upper. I sometimes think of giving suggestion to the Indian railways to consider height as a factor and priority while booking tickets, specially when someone is taller than 6 feet ;-). I dont know whether such a suggestion would be considered valid. There are enough reservations already in-effect and addition of one more exception would not be a problem :-D

OK now coming to the point. My berth number was 6. But when I boarded the train at Borivali someone was already sleeping. I could not make out if the person was he or she. But as it was my berth I wake up that person.. she was a girl and asked her, “My Seat number is 6”. She replied instantly saying to me, “My seat number is 3, can you take 3”. Initially I was bit perplexed as to why this absurd kind of seat exchange and that too the berth is just the opposite one. Passengers generally exchange berths when they want to be in groups, else elder people wish to have a lower berth in case they have problem climbing to middle or upper berth. But my priority was (confirmed+upper) berth seat so I told her “yes, I would take 3”.

Ticket checker usually comes in 15-20 minutes so I thought to get my ticket checked and then go to sleep. TT had not arrived but as other passenger wanted to sleep I need to climb to my new berth#3. No sooner I climbed to the upper berth than I saw a thin layer of oil spilled on almost the entire surface of the berth. Just as this moment I could understand and link facts as to why the girl decided to exchange berths. Now comes the cunning part of her. Right from the beginning she was behaving as if she was in deep sleep so no-one could wake up her.  In the beginning after I agreed to the berth exchange request she quickly slept in a manner as if nobody should disturb her. I again wake up her and told that the berth#3 was not clean and it has oil on its surface. The girl replied, “Is it? Zyaada kharab hai kya?” . I could easily understand her foxy and sly nature, but still keeping cool I asked her, “Did u already know about the dirty seat thats why u shifted to berth#6? and asked for exchange”. . She replied,” No, I dont know abt it at all.”.. further added that,”my friends had come to drop me at station and so I just slept”. But I was knowing her intention. How could any person occupy a wrong place. I told her, “ I want my original place and asked her to get down.” She told me to contact the TT so I could get a replacement. Rather I asked her to get down again and she should contact to TT as it was her berth which was spoilt. She further asked me to call the TT. I was not able to understand as to why should I be made to wait and suffer for no fault of mine. Then I had to be a bit bolder and told her, “you have almost wasted half hour of my time keeping me in wait state, please get down and do whatever you want... contact the TT and ask for a replacement of berth.” She raised her voice saying, “You have no manners, instead of helping me you are telling me to vacate the berth.” She added, “ I always travelled in AC class”.. I dont know why the hell she was telling this to me. She came down and without even examining the berth#3 she directly went to the TT. This makes it clear that she intentionally did this. Other co-passengers told me, “yaar tumhare mein bahut patience hai”. Another senior female passenger also told, “jaan buj ke ladki shaani baan rahi thi”. Even the TT told her that, train has no vacant berth so please clean by yourself, but she could manage to get a berth after some time through her crafty means.

It is said by some famous person perhaps by Gandhiji, “The sympathy, kindness, love, respect and behavior which you bestow upon someone, the same you would get in return from that person”. Don't know whether this fact is true in real life :-?