Mumbai: AKVarious Productions’ ‘Under The Gypsy Moon’, which opened to packed audiences in October, will have its final run at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre at NCPA on November 25 and 26.
Directed by
Akash Khurana, the play, a rendition of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s classic ‘Srikanto’, is the sixth of seven plays to be staged under the Aditya Birla Group’s Aadyam banner this year.
Sarat Chandra’s original is considered the first modern Indian novel, which set the precedent for socially conscious writing in modern Indian literature. It is considered the writer’s masterpiece. The protagonist in the play is Srikanto, a nomad, who believes every new experience enriches him. He does not want to be bound by relationships. He represents that part of every man which is in search of the true meaning of life. In this journey, he encounters two diametrically opposite women who believe he is their saviour.
With rich music and supported by nuanced performances, ‘Under The Gypsy Moon’ is a theatrical representation of one’s various emotional and mental conflicts. Divya Bhatia says, “A tightly braided adaptation and believable performances by the lead actors gave ‘Under The Gypsy Moon’ a convincing depth and sensitivity. Most audiences loved the production, some going so far as to say it was among the best Aadyam plays they had seen.”
Starring Arghya Lahiri, Omkar Kulkarni, Shivraj Waichal, Aastha Arora, and Radhika Chopra in crucial roles, the musical play is set in pre-Independence India but explores subjects such as gender, religion and morality that are relevant even today.
“The audience’s response over the shows has been deeply heartening. It inspires us to perform better with every show,” says Khurana.