Bharat Rang Mahotsav: 'Gopal Ane Sayaji' performed in NSD

Play: Gopal Ane Sayaji

Playwright: Makarand Musale

Director: P.S.Chari

Group: Triveni, Vadodara, Gujarat

Language: Gujarati

Duration: 2 hours (including a 10 min interval)

The Group

‘Triveni’ has been a confluence of performing and fine arts, young and old artists, and traditional and experimental styles since its inception in 1960 in the cultural city of Vadodara. The aim of Triveni has been to provide a platform for and nurture local talent. It has strived not just to exhibit artists and their skills but also to change and cultivate the audience outlook towards art and artists. In its endeavor Triveni has created an atmosphere that helps provide prospective careers to promising talented artists through consistent efforts. Over the past five decades it has staged successful plays in major cities in India and abroad, including plays like Vasundhara Na Vahala Dhavala, Finger Print, Dhara Gurjari, Shetal Ne Kanthe, Hoholika, Snehadheen, and Sikandar Saani; and has been invited to several national and international theatre festivals. It has felicitated and promoted artists for their outstanding work, and each year it celebrates World Theater Day by staging plays and felicitating renowned artists.

The Play

The play Gopal Ane Sayaji is a new play written by Sri Makarand Musale, to commemorate the 150^th Birth Anniversary of the Maharaja Sayajirao III of the erstwhile Baroda state. Though a prince of a native state, he jealously guarded his rights and status even at the cost of annoying the British Indian Government. At the 1911 Delhi Durbar he did not bow to the King Emperor, an act that was considered disrespectful to the throne by the British, who almost derecognized him and he almost lost his throne. He governed Baroda State for 60 years, a rare accomplishment and honor. He was fondly called Prajavatsal Rajvi (King of Hearts) by his subjects.

The play examines the crises in the life of Sayajirao, the ruler, and the conflict within him as a ruler and as a simple village man, Gopalrao. Both the central characters, Gopalrao and Sayajirao, travel through times of history, unfolding the crisis and drama with the British Raj and the social rigidity.