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CHICAGO
Mandi Theatre Group, recently formed by six-to-eight like-minded local enthusiasts to produce authentic Hindi plays in the Midwest, staged a media preview of their maiden attempt, a 35-minute play titled “Flying Hammock” (Udan-Khatola) here at the downtown premises of the Indian Consulate, March 25. Adapted from acclaimed writer for All-India Radio (Aakaashwani) Allahabad, K.M. Mishra’s radio play “Pushpak Viman” (name of Ravana’s flying chariot), and directed by Mandi founder Alka Sharma, the skit also celebrated “World Theatre Day” that fell March 27.
The light-hearted three-act comedy revolves around the dream of the protagonist “Mishra ji” to own a private airplane. The funny accents, gestures and stupidity converge to tickle one’s funny bones. While scanning the newspaper headlines, in the first act, Mishra-ji played by Rachit Trehan is caught up by a report of a relatively affordable two-seater pioneered by German engineers. He is already discussing plans with his skeptical and mundane wife Shakuntala, played by Sharma, then with his more credulous buddy Gyan Chandji, played by Mohan Rawat. In the second act, we see the couch potato enjoying his maiden flight over his city neighborhood with wife Shakuntala, only to be rudely awakened in the final act. Hilarious moments in the dream sequence bring typical middle class attitudes and sentiments to the fore, including treating the wife as a dear servant.
Consul General Ausaf Sayeed, who was joined by others in laughing over some of the dialogue and interaction, praised their homegrown talent and expressed satisfaction at being able to host a Hindi play for the first time.
“Specifically targeted at those who shifted here during 70s and 80s, the theme of this play is a common man’s day to day life. We wanted to begin with a light-comedy so that most Indians living here can connect to the 80’s era,” Sharma told Desi Talk. “We adapted somewhat 70 percent from the original and added few punches. Dialogues were re-written for a Chicago audience. The climax has been improvised to make the ending hilarious. The characters are the same, but there is a lot of improvisation,” she added.
Mandi Theater is dedicated to producing “classics” of Indian dramatic literature that are otherwise not accessible to a wide audience in Chicago. Its threefold mission is to preserve India’s great theatrical tradition; educate, inform and entertain the Hindi-speaking community through content revolving around social issues and values pertinent to the lives of young people; and to strengthen the role of traditional Indian theater in the arts community of the Chicago area, thereby enhancing India’s reputation.
Mandi founder Sharma is an actor, dancer, poet and a radio jockey (socially known as “RJ Alka”). A freelance writer, she has been associated with Aakashwani-Delhi and Shree Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra in Delhi. As channel director, she has been handling operations for Hindi radio “Spice Box,” formerly known as “radio chann pardesi” since inception.
Trehan is a Chicago-based actor, singer and filmmaker, who trained under Ed Hooks. His last venture was with Rangbaaz theatre group in Mumbai. He had been driving 40-50 miles to rehearse for Udan Khatola.
Local entrepreneur and theater enthusiast Rawat was discovered by Mandi as a natural actor. He almost lived the character of Gyan Chandji while performing. Besides hosting shows as a master of ceremonies, he has walked the ramp as a model for various clothing lines and events.
Mandi hopes to bring Udan Khalota to the wider public sometime in May.
Photo caption: (Front, from left): Vandana Jhingan (TV Asia), Mahijit S Virdi (mentor to Mandi), Sayeed, Sharma, and Information Officer at the Consulate O.P. Meena; (back): Meenu Jethi (stage setup), Rawat, Trehan, Shirowid Sharma (technical assistant) and Arti Rawat (sound engineer).
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