How the play Madhurav - Boru te Blog shines the spotlight on the Marathi language

The play Madhurav - Boru te Blog sheds light on the history and literature of the Marathi language

A Marathi play Madhurav - Boru te Blog was recently performed at the Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha. Hosted by Mitramandal Bengaluru, the play performed by just three actors, spanned 2000 years of Marathi history. Employing an innovative use of audio-visual elements and stage props, Madhurav was written by Samira Gujar and directed by Madhura Welanker-Satam.

A book was projected during the performance to enhance the audience’s understanding of literary history and was followed by a quiz later on. This unique approach was conceptualised by Madhura and the play’s format makes it adaptable for performances in various locations, especially smaller venues.

The play invites local writers to share their work and emphasises the journey from traditional manuscript writing to modern day blogging. Their work addresses contemporary issues of preserving cultural heritage and language in a globalised world, highlighting the importance of connecting future generations to their roots.

With a MA in Marathi and PhD in Sanskrit Bhakti Shastra, Samira aims to highlight the significance of regional languages in contemporary times. Apart from Madhura who is a full-time producer and director, Jui Bhagwat and Ashish Gade also starred in the play.

“Though Marathi is an ancient language, its schools are shutting down. If you want to make the next generation realise its importance, it has to be done in an entertaining way which will reach their heart and brain,” said Madhura, when asked about her inspiration for the play.

During a lecture, a professor’s mention of Vishwa Shastri Chitravankar, who wrote the iconic Marathi work Nibandh Mala deeply inspired Samira. This revelation spurred her interest in researching the history and biographies of authors and their works, a practice showcased in her play Matharam. Together with her friend Madhura, who holds an MA in Marathi, Samira unearthed fascinating historical insights and contributions to Marathi, inspiring them to create the play Madhurav - Boru te Blog.

While crafting the script, Samira had to condense extensive historical material into a cohesive and engaging narrative. She credits inputs from Madhura and her teachers’ guidance, which helped her create a script that resonates with both avid readers and general audiences.