Veteran Marathi theatre personality Mohan Wagh no more

Mohan Wagh, founder of Marathi theatre production company Chandralekha, breathed his last on Thursday evening following prolonged illness. He was 80, and is survived by wife

Padmashree and daughters Sharmila and Aparna. Sharmila is the wife of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray.
Chandralekha’s journey to fame began with Garambicha Bapu, which was staged in Mumbai in November 1967. Since then, Wagh and his group had bagged several laurels. A strict disciplinarian, Wagh nurtured and encouraged new-comers, helping them to launch their careers.

Marathi theatre and film artistes mourned the death of the maestro, who had won the Vishnudas Bhave award for his contribution to theatre.

“The bus of the Chandralekha group was always parked in our Parel village. I used to look at it and say one day I will be sitting in it,” Bharat Jadhav, film star and theatre actor, said. “Wagh produced plays, and we travelled across the state in his bus. He was like a father figure. He nurtured new-comers because he believed in theatre.”

Mangesh Kadam, playwright and director, said, “Wagh always pitted new-comers against stalwarts, giving both the experience they otherwise would never have got. He possessed a keen eye for detail, perhaps because of his talent for photography.”

Other theatre managers said that Wagh’s death was a huge loss to Marathi theatre. “He was a true theatre lover and promoter. We have lost a great person, and a nice person. The artistes he took under his wing invariably made their mark,” Vijay Desai, manager of YB Chavan Centre, said.

Wagh was also a renowned photographer. His work with the camera, chronicled in a book, was published by daughter Sharmila.

“He was a good photographer. Sharmila brought out a book showcasing some extraordinary pictures clicked by him. I wish that I had clicked some of them,” leading photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha said.

A source close to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray said, “Wagh enjoyed a close rapport with Thackeray, and had shot several photographs of his. Saheb was a great fan of his plays.”
Wagh’s last rites were performed at the Dadar crematorium late on Thursday.