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to mee navhech: Sid Harth

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May 10, 2010, 12:26:26 PM5/10/10

to mee navhech: Sid Harth

To Mee Navhech
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Directed by Vinayak Chaskar
Produced by Pradeep Dalvi
Written by Acharya Atre http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prahlad_Keshav_Atre
Starring Prabhakar Panshikar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prabhakar_Panshikar
Release date(s) 1962
Country India
Language Marathi

To Mee Navhech (Translated as: That's not me, Devnagari: तो मी नव्हेच)
is a classic Marathi Play written by Acharya Atre. Though the
protagonist role has been played by many actors since its inception in
1962, the role played by Prabhakar Panshikar is the most memorable. To
Mee Navech is probably the first play in the world where the same
actor has to do five completely different roles, not to merely add to
novelty value or as a stunt, but because the story demands it[1]. To
Mee Navhech was also among the first Marathi plays to make use of the
Revolving Stage between two scenes.

Background

A conman Lakhoba Lokhande is being prosecuted in the court of law for
allegedly duping people, marrying women for money and essentially
living multiple lives. He tries to defend his own self by asking
uncomfortable questions to each witness during the cross-questioning.
The entire play is set in a courtroom scene with a revolving set used
for cut scenes and flashbacks.

Storyline

The storyline focuses on a con Lakhoba Lokhande, who claims he is a
tobacco merchant from Nipani. The drama starts with a courtroom scene
in which Lakhoba Lokhande is sitting in the defendant box. He has been
accused by the prosecution of swindling different persons through
disguise and fraud. The prosecution lawyer presents many witnesses,
most of whom are the victims of Lakhoba's embezzlement (and in some
cases torture). The witnesses narrate their experiences with the
defendant through flashbacks. Lakhoba runs his own case after firing
his lawyer. He cross questions the witnesses and during the process
pleads his innocence by saying "To Mee Navhech".

Characters played by Prabhakar Panshikar in the play

Character Picture

Lakhoba Lokhande: A tobacco merchant from Nipani

Divakar Datar: A secret political officer of the Kingdom of Mysore

Dajishastri Datar: Elder brother of Divakar Datar

Captain Ashok Paranjpe: A Navy officer and younger brother of Divakar
Datar

Radheshyam Maharaj: A saint

Tone of Narrative

The general tone of the narrative of "To Mee Navhech" is rather
sarcastic.

References

PRABHAKAR - A SUN IS BORN

14th March 1931. A Son was born in the Panshikar Family in Mumbai.
Originally hailing from Pedne, Goa, the Panshikar family was steeped
in tradional learning of subjects like Sanskrit, VedaShastras and
Astrology. The grandfather of the child (to be named Prabhakar), was
pandit Vasudev Shastri Panshikar, the Chief Editor of the famed
Sanskrit publishing house ''Nirnaya Sagar Press''. He has to his
credit the monumental achievement of having researched, edited and
published in the finest and purest Sanskrit some 300 texts. These
texts occupy the pride of place in every Sanskrit reference library of
the world. The father of the child, Pandit Vishnu Shastri Panshikar
was also a renowned Vedic scholar, who specialised in Astrology and
edited, ''Jyotir Mayukh'', a tretise on the subject.

Despite inheriting this legacy of traditional learning, Prabhakar
discovered early in life that he was cut out for different things. At
the age of 15 (1945-46), on an impulse, he acted in a play for the
Annual Gathering of his School. The appreciation that he evoked for
that role however, drew him closer to the stage than he had imagined.
This growing involvement gradually led to a consuming passion for
acting, which finally resulted in his dropping out of school in his
matriculate year (1949). Meanwhile, he had acted in numerous plays
staged by various schools and social institutions. He was now
seriously studying the fifth 'Veda', the 'Natya Veda'. In 1950, he got
his first break as an apprentice to the great Film Director, Shri
Vishram Bedekar, for the production called 'Vasudeo Balwant'.

Unfortunately, this opportunity and whatever other bits of work came
his way, did not translate into financial stability. On a spirited
impulse, he left home and for almost six years, practically lived on
the streets. He struggled on (with a little help from friends here and
there) with scant regard for basic needs and comforts, for finally
only one thing mattered Theatre

In 1952, Panshikar got an opportunity to direct a play in the local
Ganeshostav festival. The Success of this play sparked off an upswing
in his carrier, or perhaps it was the outcome of all those years spent
in struggle, but he began receivin directorial assignments from
various Social institutions and even Corporate theatre groups. In the
Centenary year of the Western Railway, Panshikar directed a Marathi
play 'Amaldar' and Hindi Play 'Naya Zamana' for the Railways. He
directed plays based on a wide range of subjects for Mazagaon Docks,
Bombay Port trust, the National College and several other respected
organisations. He presented solo acts of soliloquies from Shakespeare.
He recorded for many plays on the Radio and got an opportunity to act
in plays for Indian National Theatre. All these activities however
were very low paying and Panshikar could barely keep body and soul
together on his meagre earnings. True to self, rather than crib about
his financial state, he was thrilled, happy and convinced that his
life was on the right course.

Towards the end of this trial, in 1956-57, Panshikar began doing bit
roles in the commercial shows of popular plays like 'Kulwadhu', 'Maze
Ghar', 'Vahini', which were produced by a leading Marathi Theatre
Company called 'Natya Niketan'. Finally, in August 1956, he got a
substantial role in a Farce 'Bhatala Dili Osari'. This was his first
fresh role meaning one that he was the first to enact and he played a
new-age poet in it. This role proved to be a milestone in his career
and he finally received due praise and recognition as an actor on
Commercial Marathi Stage.

SUNRISE AT LAST...

Shortly thereafter, Panshikar was appointed as the Manager of 'Natya
Niketan'. Since he was an actor first, he could and therefore had to
stand in during 'emergencies' for other actors. This is how he
polished and groomed himself as a versatile actor one capable of
playing the lead, the villain, roles of Old, young, crippled, funny
men, the entire range. This is where he cut his teeth on the art of
Production. This is where he studied and mastered all theatre
production.

This relentless struggle of fifteen years was finally rewarded in
1962, when Panshikar got the lead role in a new play called 'To Mee
Navech', There is an old adage ''There comes a tide in the life of
every man, which, taken at the ebb, leads him to his fortune. '' It
was an opportunity of a littletime and Panshikar was poised and
waiting for it. The play went on to earn tremendous acclaim for the
next four decades and continues to draw crowds even today.

Panshikar's brilliant touch turned his role to gold. 'To Mee Navech'
is probably the first play in the world where the same actor has to do
five completely different roles, not to merely add to novelty value or
as a stunt, but because the story demands it. The ceaseless journey of
the play from 1962 to 2003 has been one long story of absolutely
selfless devotion to theatre and incredible consistence in
performances all 2800 shows.

Panshikar was 31 when the play was launched. Today he is 72, going
strong an little things like a bypass heart surgery or advancing age
do not deter him one bit. The incredible energy and enthusiasm that he
has for anything and everything connected with theatre is enough to
put anyone half his age to shame.

The inaugural show of 'To Mee Navech' was held in New Delhi, on Vijaya
Dashami day, 8th October 1962. It is indeed a happy coincidence that
this booklet revives those golden memories in the same city, at the
same time of the year, 41 years later.

Panshikar Family: THE ROOTS

Late Pandit Vasudevshastri Laxmanshastri Panshikar (77)

(Grandfather)

Born in 1860 at Pedne, Goa.
Died in 1937 at Mumbai

Late Pandit Visnushastri Vasudeoshastri Panshikar (84)

(Father)

Born in 1888 at Pedne, Goa
Died in 1972 at Mumbai

http://www.natyasampada.com/panshikar-family.htm

THE BIRTH OF 'NATYASAMPADA' - PRODUCTION HOUSE PAR EXCELLENCE

Shortly after 'To Mee Navech', Panshikar entered into a partnership
with Mohan Wagh (Owner of 'chandralekha' one of today's leading
theatre companies) and Vasudeo Kolhatkar and launched 'Natya Sampada',
their own Theatre Production House, on 8th April 1963. After a low-key
start, the Company hit upon its first success with 'Ashrunchi Zaali
Phule', a play written by Prof. Vasant Kanetkar. The cast comprised of
theatre heavyweights such as Panshikar himself in the central role pf
Principal Vidyanand, Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar (the most popular film and
stage actor in those days), Mr. Chittaranjan Kolhatkar (a stalwart of
Marathi theatre), Ms. Faiyyaz, Ms. Kusum Kulkarni etc. The Direction
of this play was entrusted to Mr. Purushottam Darvhekar of Nagpur, for
whom this was a first break on the commercial Marathi Theatre scene in
Mumbai Mr. Darvhekar eventually became a great success in this field
and settled down in Mumbai. The stage sets were designed and created
by Mr. Raghuvir Talashilkar. Over a span of thirty six years, this
play did 1,111 shows, Panshikar alone acting till the very last show
the rest of the cast having undregone several changes. Finally, in
afirst incident of its kind, the entire cast publicly 'retired' in an
emotionally charged function, and one 'last show'. Normally, the
launching of a play is associated with pomp and ceremony. True to its
form, 'Natya Sampada' even discontinued a popular play in a blaze of
glory.

http://www.natyasampada.com/natyasampada/profile.htm

The play 'To Mee Navech' is a courtroom Drama and the author has used
the technique of flashback scenes for narration. This calls for
frequent shuttling between the Court Room the present and the various
other scenes from the past. The operational problems in actually
depicting this on stage were daunting and the first Director hit upon
a solution that was considered novel in those days. He divided the
stage in two parts, and used two separate curtains to cover them.
These curtains would go up and down alternately and cover and uncover
the two halves as required. This enabled the stage behind the stage
behind the closed half curtain to be set while the narrative
progressed on the other half of the stage.

A few years later, the rights to 'To Mee Navech' passed into the hands
of Atre Theatres. The owner of this Company, the playwright Mr. Atre
insisted on a new style of presentation. Panshikar applied himself to
the problem and came up with a true winner the 'Revolving Stage'.
After conceiving the idea, he made a model. The stage was
painstakingly fabricated by Mr. Mhadba Mistry at his 'Vishwas
Engineering Works' Kolhapur. He was ably assisted by Mr. Shamrao
Salokhe and Mr. Rajaram Chavan. This is the world's first portable
Revolving stage. The credit for this invention goes to Prabhakar
Panshikar and thereby to Marathi Theatre.

1966 - Natya Sampada hit upon its first success with 'Ashrunchi Zaali
Phule', a play written by Prof. Vasant Kanetkar. Panshikar designed
the 'Sliding Stage' for this play and further enriched the process of
technical development of Marathi Theatre.

1967 - Panshikar produced a Musical play 'Katyar Kaljat Ghusli',
written and directed by Mr. Purushottam Darvhekar. Panshikar designed
a 'Triple Revolving Stage' specially for it.

http://www.natyasampada.com/contribution-to-theatre.htm

In 1966, Maharashtra was struck by a terrible famine. Panshikar toured
for a whole month, staging shows of his latest hit play, 'Ashrunchi
Zaali Phule' and presented the Govt. Of Maharashtra with Rs. 22,000
for the Famine Relief Fund.

Panshikar toured all over Goa and raised funds totaling Rs. 66,000
which he handed over to the Gomantak Marathi Academy, for construction
of the 'Marathi Bhavan'.

A Senior Journalist from Pune, Mr. Vasudeo Kulkarni was desperately in
need of a kindly transplant. Panshikar staged a special Charity show
of 'To Mee Navech' at BalGandharva RangaMandir', Pune and handed over
the proceeds to Mr. Kulkarni.

http://www.natyasampada.com/social-contribution.htm

Chaturang Interview- Introduction 1 Watch Video

http://www.natyasampada.com/videos/Chaturang/intro1.htm

To mee navhech chi goshta Watch Video

http://www.natyasampada.com/videos/Chaturang/ToMeeNavhech.htm

DipliKumar Ani To Mee Navhech....

Dilip Kumar visited to view the show of 'To Mee Navhech'. Watch Video

After the play 'To Mee Navhech' became a runway success, a film
producer Mr. Sadashiv Raokavi, obtained the rights for making a Hindi
Feature film based on the play. He offered the lead role (played by
Panshikar in the original) to the top Hindi Filmastar Mr. Dilip Kumar.
And so one day in 1963, Mr. Dilip Kumar dropped in to watch a show at
Rang Bhavan, Mumbai.He sat on the audience through the first act, but
came and stood in the wings and observed Panshikar in the second act.
What he saw impressed him greatly. After the play, he declared that
the play and Panshikar's role in it would lose all its novelty and
thrill if it were turned into a movie. He therefore declined to play
the role, even if the producer went ahead with the production. The
project was shelved soon thereafter. Mr. Dilip Kumar reminisced aloud
about this incident during his speech on the occasion of the 1000th
show, where he was the Chief Guest

http://www.natyasampada.com/videos/Chaturang/dilipkumar.htm

^ http://www.natyasampada.com/biography-n.htm

Categories:

Marathi-language films | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Marathi-language_films
Indian plays | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Indian_plays
Marathi literature | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Marathi_literature
Indian literature | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Indian_literature

Marathi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Mi_Navhech

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/2010/05/to-mee-navhech-sid-harth.html

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/

...and I am Sid Harth

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