Offering a close and detailed look into the life of Sambaji Maharaja, a
Maratha king who lived in the 1600s, is the mahanatya, ‘Shambhuraje’, which
will include drama, dances, war scenes and choreography, performed over two and
half hours.
Aimed at an audience of all ages, especially youngsters, the
play will be staged at the Goa Engineering College campus in Farmagudi on April
25, 26 and 27, 2018 at 6:30pm.
The play is directed by Jayandranath Haldankar and written by
Neelangi Audumber Shinde, a Grade One Hinditeacher at Dr K B HedgewarHigh
School, Cujira, Bambolim. She is a double post graduate with BEd. The play was
initially written two years ago for her school and staged at Kala Academy in
coordination with the Departmentof Art and Culture, Government of Goa.
“This drama was specially written on
ChatrapatiShambhajiMaharaja’s 300th death anniversary two years ago and it was
first performed on FalgunAmavasya,the death day of SambhajiMaharaj. After the
first performance, many schools have staged this drama for the school gathering
events. As this year marks the Golden jubilee year of Bhagawati High School,
Pernem, they have chosen to perform this drama on a grander scale. Since Dr K B
Hedgewar High School already had a readymade track of this drama, they could
incorporate more artistes and also include live horses and bullock carts. After
directing the play for Dr K B Hedgewar High School, Jayandranath is now taking
more efforts to perform it on a larger scale,” says Neelima, who is also a
cultural reporter. ‘Shambhuraje’ will be staged at Copel Bhat, Ambaulim,
Quepem, on May 4, 5 and 6, 2018 at 6:30pm.
Prior to this mahanatya, Neelinga wrote eight dramas in
mahanatya style, namely ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’, ‘Dr K B Hedgewar’, ‘Kavi
Guru Rabindranath Tagore’, ‘Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’, ‘1857 to 1947’, ‘Swatantrya
Samar’, ‘Bharat Ki Sanskrutik Dharohar’, ‘Bhagat Singh’ and ‘Vande Mataram’.
“For the last 16 years, I have been writing different dramas. As Bhagawati High
School, Pernem was celebrating their 50th anniversary, they came to our school
and requested for the drama track. Earlier, 750 artistes had performed in this
drama and now around 520 artistes will be working in it,” says Neelinga, who
currently lives in Merces.
What inspired her to write a play on ChatrapatiShambhaji
Maharaja? “This play is about Shambhu Maharaja’s entire life, from birth till
death.His life story is inspirational for the youth. I too am inspired by his
life and chose only true stories of his life.I referred so many books before
writing the play. The headmaster, Vilas Satarkar, and school manager Subhash
Desai also helped me a lot. I have written dialogues in such a way that small
children can also understand his life,” she explains.
The
number of the large cast in the play has been recommended to create a record in
Asia Book of Records. “I feel very happy to know that this play has been
recommended. As a teacher, I feel that history should reach students in such
dramatic forms so that they can understand and remember better. My native place
is Pernem and BhagawatiHigh School teachers and parents are my close
associates. I expect this play will create a record and thename of Goa and
Pernem will be held high. Every Goan should watch the play as it is available
for free, thanks to the Goa Government support,” concludes Neelinga.
