Marathi plays in the US
Ranjit
I came to the US last fall and am missing all the marathi plays terribly.
I wanted to know if anyone out here knew any agents that can arrange for
plays.
(I remember last year "Suyog" had performed in the US).
I am part if the Indian student association here at UGA and can work out
something for organizing them in Athens/Atlanta.
Also, does anyone know the reason for the video companies in India not
coming up with VCDs/DVDs of good marathi plays.
All I see are a few comedy plays which are not that intresting to view after
4-5 runs.
Thanks,
Ranjit
Mahesh Velankar
> Hi,
>
> I came to the US last fall and am missing all the marathi plays terribly.
> I wanted to know if anyone out here knew any agents that can arrange for
> plays.
I would suggest, do not depend on agents. Try to assemble people, select
some play, do rehersals and put it up yourself.
> (I remember last year "Suyog" had performed in the US).
> I am part if the Indian student association here at UGA and can work out
> something for organizing them in Athens/Atlanta.
>
> Also, does anyone know the reason for the video companies in India not
> coming up with VCDs/DVDs of good marathi plays.
> All I see are a few comedy plays which are not that intresting to view after
> 4-5 runs.
My friend Abhay Patil was here in the US for a long time and now is in Pune.
He has 'produced' a tele play (a play on disk and video ...I do not know
the tech details). He arranged some shows for some groups in Pune and
here in the US. Contact him to know his experience in this reagrd.
Click here : http://www.zunka.com/
>
> Thanks,
> Ranjit
bdixit
to USA for presenting Marathi plays. The most important reason is there
is no market for such plays in USA that will pay for the expenses
involved. If one wants to bring a group of eight to ten quality actors,
including a couple of support personnel, to USA for one month to present
8 to 10 shows the total estimated costs for such a venture will be
between $50,000 to $60,000. So any organization which wants to arrange
one show will have to come up with $6,000 to $7,000. In addition to
these expenses local hospitality, renting suitable auditorium, and
arranging for other logistic support will require significant voluntary
efforts, that involves time and additional funds. It is just not
feasible to do that in USA/Canada. The Maharastrian community in
USA/Canada is too small to support such a venture........Balwant Dixit,
Director, Center for the Performing Arts of INdia, University of
Pittsburgh (<http://www.univ-relations.pitt.edu/india3>).
bdixit
products do not have much "profitable" market. If they were produced in
Maharashtra it will be relatively easy to bring them to USA/Canada. The
initial production costs for DVDs of stage plays are quite high and
since there is not much market in Mahharashtra, no commercial outfit
wants to invest in such a venture. .....Balwant Dixit
Aravind/अरविन्द
content in Marathi in North America. Is there atleast some shortwave
broadcast in Marathi that can be picked up here in USA/Canada?
I found some RealAudio dramas on AIR website. Even that is not available
now. :-(
Regards
Aravind
bdixit
activities, including short wave "directional" broadcasts. Another
problem is that there is an ingrained habit "among most of us" of
getting or renting one "original" copy of a DVD, or of a VCD and making
"home copies" for personal use. ........Balwant Dixit
Ranjit
"bdixit" <bdi...@pitt.edu> wrote in message
news:3ECA6C9D...@pitt.edu...
Ya, would agree to that.
But with what I observed off late, marathi plays are getting back their good
days, atleast in Maharashtra.
I have seens that even with tickets of Rs.80/-, the shows go pretty
housefull.
I hope that this will persuade cassette companies to come up with VCDs of
about to be extinct plays.
Hope we see those days soon.
- Ranjit
Pranil
So far it worked for me. To hear Marathi songs online, there are a whole
lot of other sites, which a simple google search can produce.
Try others that I haven't tried yet:
http://www.neelam.com/marathi/video/
http://www.dilipprabhawalkar.com/form.htm
- Pranil
bdixit
looks, at its face value, very encouraging financially. But in reality,
even with an audience of 600 to 1000 (the usual capacity of a very good
well equipped theater that are suitable for stage plays) the total
revenues are in the range of Rs. 48,000 to Rs. 80,000. This amount is
not enough at all. Usually one show by a well known Maharashtrian
theater group costs Rs. 1.5 to 3.0 lakh, or sometime even more. Ticket
revenues are just not enough anymore to support classical music
concerts, stage plays and other similar activities. The difference is
usually made by getting corporate sponsors. Such sponsorships are also
not easy to get. So outwardly it looks "just fine" but financial
problems are quite difficult to solve. Even in big cities in
Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune, Nasik etc.) the Marathi stage plays are not
financially rewarding to the organizers. That is the reality. In USA it
is almost an impossibility...................Balwant Dixit
Aravind/अरविन्द
So, are there any Marathi movies that are produced these days? I am a
Maharashtrian but I grew up outside of Maharashtra. What movies people
watch? Hindi?
Cheers
Aravind
Pradeep
> bdixit wrote:
> > Your observation that a Marathi play is sold out at Rs. 80/seat
> > looks, at its face value, very encouraging financially. But in reality,
> > even with an audience of 600 to 1000 (the usual capacity of a very good
> > well equipped theater that are suitable for stage plays) the total
> > revenues are in the range of Rs. 48,000 to Rs. 80,000. This amount is
> > not enough at all. Usually one show by a well known Maharashtrian
> > theater group costs Rs. 1.5 to 3.0 lakh, or sometime even more. Ticket
> > revenues are just not enough anymore to support classical music
> > concerts, stage plays and other similar activities. The difference is
> > usually made by getting corporate sponsors. Such sponsorships are also
> > not easy to get. So outwardly it looks "just fine" but financial
> > problems are quite difficult to solve. Even in big cities in
> > Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune, Nasik etc.) the Marathi stage plays are not
> > financially rewarding to the organizers. That is the reality. In USA it
> > is almost an impossibility...................Balwant Dixit
> >
So, the question is, how does the commercial Marathi stage industry
survive in Maharashtra? I am not aware of anyone sponsoring each and
every show. And they are very well alive and kicking each other
(virtually...amply demonstrated during an unpleasant episode at the
recently concluded convention at Nagar)!
Margins may be low, but then that is how they have been all along.
Best is for Maharashtrians to grow their understanding of theatre and
begin patronising the Chhabildaas type of progressive theatre. It did
very well during the seventees but couldn't sustain later on. Until an
average Marathi 'theatre lover' doesn't come out of the "Sthal: Diwan
khaana" type of theatre, it is all poor plays they will have to live
with.
>
> So, are there any Marathi movies that are produced these days? I am a
> Maharashtrian but I grew up outside of Maharashtra. What movies people
> watch? Hindi?
>
> Cheers
>
> Aravind
Arvind,
There are Marathi movies produced. Dedicated directors like Amol
Palekar keep making good efforts amongst the rot of the mundane that
usually passes off as Marathi films. If you are really interested in
seeing good films, check up on Amol's Kairee (based upon GA Kulkarni's
short story by the same name, in Hindi but with a typical Marathi
backdrop), or his film on RaDhon Karve. If you would like to acquaint
with the substandard that passes of as "great", check up on Mahesh
Manjrekar's Astitva. This so-called film has all the typical elements
of a Marathi play. It was a tear jerker, with loud acting by the hero,
the heroine and with a sidekick of the hero thrown in for good.
Besides, it had songs, some good, some atrocious.
....Pradeep
Sardesaip
March, it is a good but serious play.
Maybe mandals in other cities can arrange something too.
Ranjit
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pradeep" <pras...@netvigator.com>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian.marathi
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 12:09 AM
Subject: Re: Marathi plays in the US
>
> Arvind,
>
> There are Marathi movies produced. Dedicated directors like Amol
> Palekar keep making good efforts amongst the rot of the mundane that
> usually passes off as Marathi films. If you are really interested in
> seeing good films, check up on Amol's Kairee (based upon GA Kulkarni's
> short story by the same name, in Hindi but with a typical Marathi
> backdrop), or his film on RaDhon Karve. If you would like to acquaint
> with the substandard that passes of as "great", check up on Mahesh
> Manjrekar's Astitva. This so-called film has all the typical elements
> of a Marathi play. It was a tear jerker, with loud acting by the hero,
> the heroine and with a sidekick of the hero thrown in for good.
> Besides, it had songs, some good, some atrocious.
>
> ....Pradeep
Pradip,
I also think that the marathi film industry is at fault as well.
You can find that most of the marathi movies are too much of PJ oriented
comedies
or too serious art filmish movies.
I think if the industry comes up with something really light and nice
why would ppl mind watching it.
The very fact that someone like Lakshmikant Berde (no offence meant, but
fact is fact)
has been at the top for so many years proves the derth of good talent in the
industry.
As oppose look at the marathi theatre scene, they are lotsa "mattabar" and
"diggaj"
actors out there. Why will they refuse any offer if they are provided with
good scripts for movies?
- Ranjit
Mahesh Velankar
Why do you take only movie makers in isolation and beat them?
The story is same about Monthly magazines, Weeklys, Detective stories,
(and yes even the music). All was good at some point of time in the
history.
Then demand went up. There were more 'suppliers'. Quality went down.
This is the paradox. If money starts coming into an area of life, it
actually destroys it subsequently :-(
In my opinion, all this should go on, on a much smaller scale, There should
be less demand, less players. So you will see some good output from
struggling artists.
This is the reason, why I suggested that you should not go after
'professionals' as far as cultural activities are concerned. You
should participate and oraganize yourself.
-Mahesh
Pradeep
><<snipped>>
> The story is same about Monthly magazines, Weeklys, Detective stories,
> (and yes even the music). All was good at some point of time in the
> history.
>
> Then demand went up. There were more 'suppliers'. Quality went down.
> This is the paradox. If money starts coming into an area of life, it
> actually destroys it subsequently :-(
>
> In my opinion, all this should go on, on a much smaller scale, There should
> be less demand, less players. So you will see some good output from
> struggling artists.
>
> This is the reason, why I suggested that you should not go after
> 'professionals' as far as cultural activities are concerned. You
> should participate and oraganize yourself.
>
> -Mahesh
Mahesh,
Nice to see you back here on SCIM after a long while.
I agree with you when you write, "... I suggested that you should not
go after 'professionals' as far as cultural activities are concerned.
You
should participate and oraganize yourself."
The best way forward for local US Marathi people is to stage plays
themselves. But more so, be sensible in selecting the plays and the
way they are directed. Educated people have an obligation to their
society to enhance their culture in the true sense of the term. This
means one should choose well written plays and direct them with a
good understanding of theatre.
Back home, there are people who have such sensibilities, and they keep
making efforts in their own ways to promote good theatre. In the
sixtees and seventees, we have had Vijayabaai Mehta, Arvind and
Sulabha Deshpande, Amol Palekar, Jabbar Patel, Bhalbaa Kelkar all well
supported by respective dedicated team members; and playrights such as
Vijay Tendulkar, Girish Karnad, Jayawant Dalvi, PuLa Deshpande.
Chhabildaas was an excellent example of what could be achieved when
dedicated 'rangakarmi's'[stage artistes] came together. Take a look at
the calibre of artistes progressive Marathi stage has given to Hindi
film industry.... Dr. Lagoo, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Nana Patekar, Amol
Palekar, Rohini Hattangadi. Compare them with Laximakant Berde, Paresh
Rawal and the likes!!
It is true right now we are caught in the midst of whirlpool of trash,
that is the result of a quick exposure to media. I hope sensibilities
will survive through this tumultous period.
.....Pradeep
Pradeep
> Marathi Vishwa in NJ showed Shriram Lagoos teleplay 'Soorya pahilela Manoos' in
> March, it is a good but serious play.
>
> Maybe mandals in other cities can arrange something too.
It will be interesting to know what response you derived from the
Marathi crowd elsewhere. Average Maharashtrians are content with tear
jerkers on one hand or extremely shallow farcical plays on the other.
....Pradeep
Abhay Patil
rightly pointed out difficulties in getting live plays to USA. I am
glad that I took a step to archive a classic that drew good response
in SFO bay area and also in New Jersey. California Arts Association (
http://www.calaaonline.com ), which distributes this teleplay in USA,
has plans to archive classics on a regular basis. Please keep tuned.
As a producer, I realized that in spite of low expenses, low setup
complexities and above all a name like Dr. Shreeram Lagoo, I could not
get enough organizations interested in screening this play. A lot of
talented people are active on Marathi stage and doing some excellent
work. It is we, the audience, who is failing to step up to the plate.
I did my part- but we need support from like minded people.
BTW, I believe Sandesh Kulkarni is planning to bring his highly
acclaimed "Sathecha kaay karaayacha" to USA. Don't miss it. I don't
have the details yet.
Thanks,
-Abhay
Mahesh Velankar
> -------
> As a producer, I realized that in spite of low expenses, low setup
> complexities and above all a name like Dr. Shreeram Lagoo, I could not
> get enough organizations interested in screening this play.
Abhay,
I suggest you now start producing a video on your experiences with
Marathi spectetors and odience that watched your play 'soorya
paahilelaa maaNoos'
Here is a title I suggest for such a video....
'soorya paahilelaa maaNoos paahilelaa maaNoos !' ;-)
-Mahesh
Mahesh Velankar
> ------
> So, the question is, how does the commercial Marathi stage industry
> survive in Maharashtra? I am not aware of anyone sponsoring each and
> every show. And they are very well alive and kicking each other
> (virtually...amply demonstrated during an unpleasant episode at the
> recently concluded convention at Nagar)!
> Margins may be low, but then that is how they have been all along.
>
> Best is for Maharashtrians to grow their understanding of theatre and
> begin patronising the Chhabildaas type of progressive theatre. It did
> very well during the seventees but couldn't sustain later on. Until an
> average Marathi 'theatre lover' doesn't come out of the "Sthal: Diwan
> khaana" type of theatre, it is all poor plays they will have to live
> with.
>
And this is what the 'naaTakavaalaa's are living with:
http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=47793944
You will perhaps find this remotely related to the subject matter.
-Mahesh