Celebrating the plays that celebrate Mumbai

Mumbai Meri Mehbooba Hain
(Mumbai through its plays)

Its a poignant line in Vishal Bharadwaj’s MAQBOOL. Mumbai meri mehbooba hain.

Its a mehbooba you love. And irrevocably hate.

The great poets (Narayan Surve, Namdeo Dhasal, Annabhau Sathe, Amar Sheikh) and their ballads have celebrated this city. Then there were the Kamgar centres in Andheri, Worli, Naigaum, Kala Chowkie, Vikhroli. In the finest tradition of theatre, they deployed thumris, dholkiwallahs, petiwallahs, lavanis, bharood, songi and now films songs and tv serial plots.

If its Mumbai, then anything and everything goes. As a road side artiste stated: that being remembered makes you live for ever. … And does living in infamy count?

That was the fate of performances staged in open-air grounds like Jambori Maidan with audiences of 1000+. The plays are publicised through word of mouth or handbills outside Lower Parel or Currey Road station. Stagings include JWALA and SAKHARAM BINDER. Sometimes there’s something new and innovative …


(more…)