MNS's Abhijit Panse to stage political play Ghashiram Kotwal in Hindi
'Ghashiram Kotwal is a depiction of human cruelty that still feels relevant. Great works take time to be recognised, and this one has earned its place as a classic,' said Panse, who has designed the new production. 'Bringing the play in Hindi is not opening it for criticism or backlash; it's purely to educate and showcase art the way it deserves to be showcased.' he adds.
Panse's version is scheduled to premiere in the first week of June and will tour major theatre festivals and cities across India.
Tendulkar's play, originally written in 1972, is a political satire set during the Peshwa rule in Pune, and it critiques the abuse of power and corruption in political systems. The play follows the journey of Ghashiram, a man who becomes the Kotwal (police chief) of Pune, and his eventual corruption as he becomes part of the power structures he once wanted to change.
The play faced backlash for criticising politics, showing caste discrimination, and exposing corruption. Its bold themes led to censorship and strong reactions from conservative groups, but it is an important play in Indian theatre. Due to the play's political background, the creative team has cautiously approached the remake.
'It is a risk to touch on such a topic right now,' said sound director Mandar Deshpande. 'But absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men who try to talk about the unspoken are always regarded as bad. I am grateful to be part of an effort discussing such a topic.'
To avoid censorship, specific revisions have been made to the script. 'We have made an effort to remove any caste-oriented words or slurs so that the play doesn't get censored, as that was one of the reasons it was earlier,' said director Balachandra Kubal. 'Despite that, the main essence of the play stays as is. We have only tried to adapt the play to the current audience.' He adds.
'Ghashiram Kotwal is literature and should be received as that; I feel the current society is more tolerant and will receive the play better,' added Kiran Yadnyopavit, who is contributing to the play's production.
Panse said, 'Art is art and should never be censored, especially in today's generation where OTT content is so prominently consumed, censorship is unnecessary. It shows our society has progressed.'
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