Synopsis
MAHADEVBHAI (1892-1942) is a reminder of a healthy tradition that is slowly being obliterated by the devices of deep hatred and prejudice. The character that occupies centrestage is Mahadev Desai, secretary and onlooker to Gandhiji. The play is based on the daily diary that Mahadevbhai maintained, in which he jotted down the innumerable letters to and by Gandhiji, as well as conversations and banter, lectures and discourses.
The form chosen is of lively storytelling, interspersed with humour, as one actor plays out various historical characters like Gandhiji, Mahadevbhai, Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. B R Ambedkar, among others.
The attempt is to understand the thoughts and principles that Gandhiji stood for; principles that are even more relevant in today’s world “non-violence, economic processes that favour the poorest of the poor, religious tolerance, removal of untouchability & discrimination, the status of women.`
Director’s Note
The narrator in the play asks the question “Who is Mahadebhai?” And I realized the same question applies to me as well. This intrigued me to stage this play. Moreover the lighter vein of the ideology of Gandhiji gives a deeper understanding into his motives and brings forth the more human and demystified face of ‘Father of the Nation’.
The play is actually a solo piece and challenged my notions of staging. The task at hand was to tell a story with only one actor. This gave me an opportunity to work on a subtle piece interspersed with humour.
This made me work closely on the strengths of narrative to make it more lively and engaging keeping in mind the importance of the content and its context to this present age.
I would not say that this is a guide to Mahatma but moreover it speaks about the Mohandas.
