Shivaji Maharaj, once more

Are you up for a thought-provoking play this weekend? Then Marathi play Shivaji Underground in Bhimnagar Mohalla is the right one for you.

Written by Rajkumar Tangde, and directed by actor Nandu Madhav, the play aims to focus on lesser-known aspects of the warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The play uses satire and comedy to good effect and lampoons political leaders who come across as an ill-informed, manipulative bunch. The story starts off with Lord Indra asking

Yama

to fetch Shivaji Maharaj from earth along with his ideas. For most part of the play, Yama runs around with Shivaji Maharaj’s turban, trying to fit it onto the nearest person to ascertain if he is the departed king. Indra keeps calling him from heaven egging Yama to bring back his prize catch.

Performed by a troupe of 13 actors, the play clarifies the fact that Shivaji Maharaj was not communal, but a leader who insisted on honouring the enemy he defeated, and a conqueror who respected women. The play also aims to throw light on the fact that the warrior king had a large number of Muslim soldiers in his army, and even allowed his enemy Afzal Khan to be buried at

Pratapgad

fort.

Bhagwan Medankar

, play producer, says, “The public perception of Shivaji Maharaj is exactly the opposite of what he actually was. If he was among us today, he would wonder at what’s being attributed to him. There’s a lot that people are unaware about when it comes to the great king, and we hope this play will enlighten the audience a little more.”


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