A play with death

Pune-based director Sandesh Kulkarni’s Khelimeli explores the world of the dying. Pallavi Kharade reports

Even as comedy plays are ruling the commercial theatre scenario once more, exploring a serious subject like death through a commercial play like Khelimeli needs a lot of courage.

Producer Chandrakant Lokare and  director Sandesh Kulkarni were brave enough to take the decision and it paid off. Khelimeli won five Zee Gaurav awards. As Kulkarni explains, “Normally the subjects that are handled on the commercial theatre set-up are very direct.

But in Khelimeli the subject slowly unwinds through the medium of a story.” To portray such a different subject on the commercial platform — “One should have the capacity to take a risk,” he says.

“When I read the script I didn’t think it would be performed on a commercial platform, but producer Chandrakant Lokare was ready to take the risk.”

The play is scripted by Dr Shekhar Phansalkar and directed by Sandesh Kulkarni; it stars Vijay Nikam, and has music by Narendra Bhide.

Dr Ajay Phansalkar, the writer of Khelimeli, is a medical professional. As he says: “Death is part of life and for a writer there is nothing more enigmatic and attractive a subject than death.”

The play, told in the form of stories, is about people who are dying. A patient tells stories to other terminally ill sufferers. “Storytelling is a very powerful medium for healing. A story can take away your illness, worries and sorrows.” By telling stories to terminally ill people, the protagonist is doing a kind of service.

“Although death is inevitable, he teaches them how to face it gracefully.” And though the play deals with serious subject like death, “It’s both about reality and a surreal world,” Phansalkar explains.

For Kulkarni it was a challenge to direct Khelimeli. “As there are manycharacters, economically it was little difficult. And when you are doing touring theatre, there are limitations — no complicated sets, for instance. But the whole creative process was a joyful journey for me.”And commercial viability?

Kulkarni says, “To analyse the commercial success of a play, at least 100 shows should be done.” The play has been staged just 50 times so far. “The play has potential. I am sure that the public will take notice. Now we need to get the audiences to the
theatre,” smiles Kulkarni.