''Jal Jal Mare Patang'' () is a 2009
Gujarati language biographical play that was written by Mihir Bhuta and directed by
Manoj Shah
Manoj Sakarchand Shah (born 5 February 1955) is an Indian theatre director, actor and producer known for his works in the Gujarati theatre. He has directed over 90 plays, such as one-man plays and biographical plays, in different genres . He is ...
. The play depicts the life of 19th-century Indian writer and philosopher
Manilal Dwivedi (1858–1898).
Background
''Jal Jal Mare Patang'', which was written by Mihir Bhuta and directed by Manoj Shah, is based on Manilal's autobiography ''
Atmavrittanta'' (1979).
It took Shah seven years to complete research for the play.
It was first premiered at
National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on 28 February 2009.
The play's songs have been sung by Kaumudi Munshi, Purushottam Upadhyay,
Ashit Desai, Uday Mazumdar, Suresh Joshi,
Parthiv Gohil
Parthiv Gohil (born 18 February 1976) is a playback singer for Indian films including ''Devdas'', ''Saawariya'', '' Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster'', and ''Kisaan''. He is known in Gujarati Cinema for hit songs ''Aasmani'', ''Thai Jashe'', and ''Son ...
, and Karsan Sagathiya.
The play featured paintings by
Atul Dodiya as a backdrop.
The play received A-certificate from the Maharashtra Censor Board of Theatres.
Summary
The play presents aspects of Dwivedi's character as a scholar, writer, and supporter of women's education; and his illness.
It focuses on lust, literature and spirituality, which according to Shah were major elements of Dwivedi's life.
Cast
The original cast included:
* Vedish Jhaveri as Manilal Dwivedi
* Shailendra Patel as Manilal's father
* Kalpana Shah as Manilal's mother
* Trupti Thakkar as Manilal's wife Fuli
* Vimal Upadhyay as
Balashankar Kantharia
Balashankar Ullasram Kantharia (May 17, 1858 – April 1, 1898), was a Gujarati poet.
Biography
Balashankar Kantharia was born on May 17, 1858 into a Sathodara Nagar Brahmin family in Nadiad (now in Gujarat, India). He was born to Ullasram Arjun ...
* Bhagvati Saghathia as Balashankar Kantharia's wife
* Ashok Parmar as Manilal's pupil Chhotu
* Vaishakhi Shukla as Chhotu's wife Ram
* Aishwarya Mehta as Diwaliben
* Chetan Dhanani as
Kavi Kant
Manishankar Ratnji Bhatt ( gu, મણિશંકર રત્નજી ભટૃ), popularly known as Kavi Kant ( gu, કવિ કાન્ત) was a Gujarati poet, playwright and essayist. He is an innovator of ''Khandkavya'', a typical Gujarati ...
* Janam Shah as
Kalapi
Sursinhji Takhtasinhji Gohil (26 January 1874 – 10 June 1900), popularly known by his pen name, ''Kalapi'' was a Gujarati poet and the Thakor (prince) of Lathi state in Gujarat. He is mostly known for his poems depicting his own pathos.
He live ...
* Jay Upadhyay as Manilal's
Parsi friend
Reception
Utpal Bhayani
Utpal Harivallabh Bhayani (10 October 1953 – 16 October 2019) was a Gujarati language story writer, playwright, critic and translator from Gujarat, India.
Life
Utapal Bhayani was born on 10 October 1953 in Calicut (now Kozhikode) to Harivall ...
praised Bhuta and Shah for ''Jal Jal Mare Patang'' authentic adaptation of Dwivedi's life. He also praised performances, especially that of Vedish Jhaveri, as well the as music, songs, costumes, sets, and lighting but criticised the
non-linear
In mathematics and science, a nonlinear system is a system in which the change of the output is not proportional to the change of the input. Nonlinear problems are of interest to engineers, biologists, physicists, mathematicians, and many other ...
structure of the play and called it "confusing". He also praised the creativity in scenes such as Manilal's insistence of eschewing the use of western toilets by his parents, his relationships with his wife, his student's wife, and Manigaurin, as well as his
ragging at
Elphinstone College while criticising Manilal's meetings with Kalapi and Kant.
Deepa Punjani of the
Mumbai Theatre Guide
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
compared ''Jal Jal Mare Patang'' with Shah's previous biographical plays. She criticised its glorification of Manilal, and the predictability and lack of depth and "layers" in the play. Punjani also called Jhaveri's performance "loud and over the top".
See also
* ''
Uncho Parvat, Undi Khin''
References
{{Manilal Nabhubhai Dwivedi
Manilal Dwivedi
2009 plays
Biographical plays about writers
Biographical plays about philosophers
Gujarati-language plays
Plays set in the 19th century
Plays set in India
Cultural depictions of Indian men
Cultural depictions of poets