Vacuum Cleaner

#VacuumCleaner - An absolutely fun #natak!

The start is slow and seemingly mundane but once it picks up, it maintains the high till the very end. The premise is familiar but unexpected (unless you already know!). The script, story, etc. are average.

The thing that takes it to another level is the brilliant comic timing and amazing performances by #AshokSaraf and #NirmitiSawant. They are an absolute delight to watch on stage. #PrathameshCheulkar stands out through his dance performance. Other actors are apt.

Overall, its very funny and good entertainment. Recommended watch for a relaxing time.

3.5⭐️ from me.

Not at all Kaadaaakkkk!

#AshrunchiZaaliFuley - A revived classic, this is somewhat incapable of engaging today’s audience!

The story is lucid and free flowing. However, execution should have been much better.

The sets look old (may be for effect but still meh); dialogues are good (some excellent) but verbose and heavy-duty which today’s crowd cannot fathom; character building and establishment of relationships between them is abrupt and insufficient; the blackouts between scenes are abnormally long and nothing much changes on set; and there are 2 extremely long intervals.

Although the audience tends to go berserk as #SubodhBhave enters, he was average. He has performed #Lalya much better in #AniDrKashinathGhanekar. For me, #ShaileshDatar steals the show as #Vidyanand. Rest of the cast is apt.

Overall, its average and not worth spending ₹500 on tickets as its impact has faded with time.

2.5⭐️ from me.

Ek Bandakhor Natak??

#TilaKahiSangaychay - A classic example of “char aane ki murgi bara aane ka masala”!

Kudos to #ZeeMarathi for the excessive advertising that piques viewers’ interest in this play.

Basically, it is a classic feminist story with a modern setting. It manages to stick to the point and is quite relatable for the most part.

I have always liked #TejashriPradhan and she is good in this one as well. #AstaadKale is much better on stage than on TV!

Overall, nothing much “bandakhor” about it.

2.5⭐️ from me.

Against all odds...

#Ananya - A tale reiterating that where there is a will, there is a way.

The story and characters are simple; the strength lies in the fantastic performance. The leading actress #RutujaBagwe ‘stands’ strong on her feet and carries the play ably on her ‘shoulders’ (pun intended). Rest of the cast is average. Some of the new actors need to improve their dialogue delivery as they often lose out on clarity of speech.

Overall, worth watching for the sheer hardwork put in by Rutuja Bagwe and her trainers in effectively portraying the character of Ananya.

4⭐️ from me - 3.5 for the inspiring play and 0.5 extra only for Rutuja.

P.S. Just one thing that could be better. The activities that Ananya does with her feet are not visible from the seats far from the stage (Beyond row E/F). Wonder if anything can be done for that.

Why So Gambhir?

#WhySoGambhir - Well, because its just not funny enough! 😐

The sitcom-style #MarathiNatak is situational with hardly any good comedy. The punches that actually crack you up are hugely outnumbered by silly one-liners and crass toilet humour.

The concept of sitcom on stage is unique but the execution should have been much better.

On the bright side, the cast is a fine balance of good actors and so-so ones. Aroha Velankar and Pallavi Patil are quite good. Pradeep Joshi has limited scope. Anvita Phaltankar has potential. The rest are almost meh.

Overall, nothing great.

2⭐️ from me.

Immortal

#AmarPhotoStudio - Whatta play!

A concept which has been seen in some form or the other in cinema has been brilliantly depicted! All performances simply fantastic.

Always admired #AmeyWagh as a multifaceted actor; was totally impressed by the spectrum covered by #SuvratJoshi; was great to see a totally different #SakhiGokhale and #PoojaThombre.

Overall, it was a timeless, effortless and amazing experience. 4.5⭐️ from me.

Please catch it if you haven't already! Missed my fangirl moment of personally meeting the stars just because it was too late in the night! 😶

Surprisingly Above Average

Going for this play was a total blind game. And boy was I pleasantly surprised!

True to its name, the story is full of surprises and keeps you involved right till the end. Although it appears to be predictable at first glance, the end is not too goody-goody as you would expect.

I never had much expectations from this cast but Saurabh Gokhale has proved his mettle. His performance is effortless and excellent! Prajakta Mali is also pretty good - so much better than her TV show! Mayuri Deshmukh is ok. Sameer Khandekar was a total turnoff. Had so many expectations after watching him on TV - but his dialogue delivery was too speedy for my taste. Diction was pretty bad. Could not even catch some of the words!!

Overall, this play is decent. You will definitely not be disappointed.

Flying High

Gela Udat - Nothing short of a cinematic experience on stage!

It has everything from drama to comedy and dance to fight sequences. Story is average but superhero Siddharth Jadhav never lets the spirit drop! Like he says in the play, "Ekach fight - vatavaran tight!" The guy's enthusiasm and energy are at an altogether different level. The rest of the cast is apt. 

Overall, a typical Kedar Shinde comedy. 3.5/5. The extra 0.5 for the effort put into creating live cinema on stage! 

U Turn

I had heard a lot of good things about the award-winning Marathi drama called "U Turn". And I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The story is about the relationship between a lonely man and a woman in their fifties, and the obstacles they face. Dr. Girish Oak plays Major Sudhir Vaidya, a retired army-man, divorced, with a young married daughter living in a different city. Ila Bhate plays Rama Gokhale, a widow, whose only son is well-settled abroad.

Circumstances bring these two together and even though they are as different as chalk and cheese, a beautiful bond of friendship and understanding develops. As in most of our films, the main problem is the belief that"ek aadmi aur aurat kabhi dost nahi ho sakte". Major is seeking a companion and Rama seems like the perfect candidate. They eventually start living together as companions. Both are confident that their children are mature enough to understand their relationship and their loneliness. Major is desperate to forget the past due to the bad memories, while Rama loves dreaming about all the beautiful moments from the past. However, both decide to live only for the present, forgetting everything from their past life. As time progresses, both realize that it is very difficult to forget things that are imbibed deep in your heart. Also, kids from both sides resist strongly, and it becomes difficult to move on. In the end, it is a dilemma between doing what you want and ignoring the kids you love or doing everything for the kids' happiness as you have been doing all your life and lead a lonely life forever.

Will Major and Rama choose their happiness and continue living together? Or will they make a sacrifice for their kids again? I guess you should watch the play to find out. It has a common but well scripted story, excellent performances by both the actors, and also a few comic situations and lines. All in all, a very nice play and a great one-time watch.