Nipun Dharmadhikari Director, Actor [Marathi Theatre ]
Which is the last best play you saw and why?
I would like to mention two plays, because i saw them within a span of two days and they left me with a major hang-over..the first is STORIES IN A SONG, directed by Sunil Shanbag. I liked it because of the sheer team-work that makes the play work. It is apparent right from the word go. Namit Das, in that play, was an eye-opener!
The second play is NATAK NAKO written by Dharmakirti Sumant and directed by Aalok Rajwade. I liked it because it was a total surprise for me. I was going to direct that play before, but couldn't because of other commitments. I knew the text, but what I saw on stage was something that I could have never imagined.
Your favorite adda to see a play�
NCPA experimental - this doesn't qualify as an 'adda' per se as i don't 'hang-out' there. But I like watching plays there.
Your favourite playwright�
Satish Alekar. Very few people can think like him, and almost nobody has a grasp on the craft and dialogues like he does.
A play you would like to see filmed. Why?
SANGEET KATYAR KALJAT GHUSLI, written by Purushottam Darvekar. It has everything that a good film requires - excellent plot, excellent drama, beautifully sketched characters, beautiful dialogues and songs.
The most hilarious play you have seen�
I have laughed hardest on seeing Namit Das' potrayal of the English babu in STORIES IN A SONG.
A play, which is over-hyped�
Just one? This might sound overly-diplomatic, but this is true. I feel DALAN, which I directed is a little over-hyped.
A classical play that you should have read�
All of Shakespeare's work.
A play that changed your perception about the theatre�
WAADA, written by Mahesh Elkunchwar and directed by Chetan Datar
How do you regard the Mumbai theatre scene?
I feel that visually many new things are being carried out, but somewhere the script is being ignored.
If you have ever been a part of a theatre production/s, can you recall an event that was insightful, significant or simply humorous?
Just recently, we were performing SANGEET MANAPMAN in Pune in front of a packed house. The very last scene was in progress. We were approaching that penultimate moment where the heroine - Sayli Panse - enters, sings and everything falls in place. I was sitting with the sound and music operators and was waiting to give the cue. The cue on which Sayli was supposed to enter was delivered but still there no sign of her on stage. The actors on stage went quiet for a moment anticipating her entry. Then they realised that something was wrong, so they started improvising. The funny part was that all the 7 actors on stage felt it was their personal responsibility to take care of this situation and each one started improvising on a different note which led to a pandemonium on stage. One of the actors went inside to get her and saw that she was standing in the wing, not willing to come inside as there was a wardrobe malfunction and most part of her leg was exposed. Half a minute later, the actor almost dragged her in, where she sang the last song in a shaky voice and the curtain fell. Interestingly, this show has also being shot and whenever i see this scene, I remember how helpless i felt just sitting there and watching all this.
Your favourite director/actor/music or set designer�
My favourites -- Director - Aalok Rajwade. Actor- Amey Wagh. Music Director- Gandhaar Sangoram and Light Designer - Pradeep Vaiddya.
A significant Indian production that you may have witnessed�
The original productions of Vijay tendulkar's GHASHIRAM KOTWAL and Satish Alekar's MAHANIRWAN.
Nipun Dharmadhikari
Which is the last best play you saw and why? 
