The Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) seem to have found support in Marathi theatre. Over the past few years, several plays have been made to highlight the issue of migrants and bring back the ‘Marathi pride’.
However, people from the theatre industry say that plays on political situation in the state help producers attract crowds and rake in the moolah.
This time, a Marathi play, He Thamble Pahije (It must stop), has raised the issue of migrants and taxi permits. The advertisements claim the play is an attempt to drive home the agenda of MNS president Raj Thackeray.
The play’s message is clear — taxi permits in Mumbai should be given to Maharashtrians only. It also addresses the issue of employment.
The play has been produced by Rajesh Shirke under the banner of Sanjeevani Theatres. It will be performed at the Savitribai Natya Mandir in Dombivli on March 21.
However, this is not the first time that Marathi theatre has highlighted the migrant issue. Earlier, plays such as Bhaiya Hatpay Pasri, Aaytya Var Koyta and Marathi Manse spoke about
and praised the Marathi-speaking people.
Bhaiya Hatpay Pasri was a hit even after the death of its producer Machhindra Kambli in November 2007. Through this play, Kambli had moved the masses, especially in Konkan, against the alleged migrant encroachers. At that time, the MNS had not started their campaign for the Marathi manoos.
Marathi Manse was launched at a time when both the MNS and the Shiv Sena reinvented their ideologies regarding Marathi pride. Written and directed by Janardan Lavangare, the play reflects the social cluster in different parts of Maharashtra.
Prasad Kambli, producer of Bhaiya Hatpay Pasri, said: “It is true that some producers are trying to ride on the anti-migrant wave created by the MNS. But when we staged the play for the first time, the MNS was still to take up the issue. Ours is the only play which has completed three years on stage. The others followed us, but could not survive because they did not have a strong base.”
Interestingly, a Marathi film called Bhaiya was released a few months ago showing migrants as friends of the locals.
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