MUMBAI: The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai presents the 7^th edition of its annual Gujarati theatre festival, Vasant Gujarati Natya Utsav from 31 March to 2 April 2017. The three-day festival will present works by well-known playwrights, directors and actors from the Gujarati theatre fraternity.

The festival will open with ‘A Rear View - Trouble is closer than it appears’, a drama set in the lavish bungalow of an established and successful advocate expecting a promotion as a judge. The advocate is warned about the existence of a suspicious man, however, it’s too late; as the intruder is all set to make his meeting with the protagonist memorable.

NCPA Programming head for Theatre and Film, Deepa Gahlot said, “Vasant Gujarati Natya Utsav celebrates the unique experimental facet of Gujarati theatre and gives a platform for the theatre groups to showcase their novel ideas. The festival is a celebration of some of the best creative minds in Gujarati theatre as well as new plots and narratives. Year on year, we bring to our audience an eclectic mix of plays that have a new story to tell. This year’s line-up is especially interesting as it includes drama, an inspiring biopic of real heroism, a comedy and an award-winning play.”

The second-day witnesses a play called - ‘Kharr Kharr’ by Pritesh Sodha. This is the untold story of ‘the secret congress radio’ with a special focus on the life of the recipient of Padma Vibhushan Dr Usha Mehta. The story is based in the later part of the Indian freedom struggle and how a progressive woman called Usha Mehta creates a modus operandi against the British Raj and finds a totally new way of revolting against them.

The festival concludes with two plays namely, ‘Back to School’ and ‘Saat Samandar Sahu Ni Andar’.  ‘Back to School’ is adapted and directed by Hussaini Dawawala. The play is about a guy named Chokhadia who blames his school for his unsuccessful life and is advised by one of his friends to go back to the school asking for a refund of his fees.   ‘Saat Samandar Sahu Ni Andar’ is set during the era of post-World War II, and in the backdrop of Indian Royalty. The play is about two travellers, Parasnath and Bhagyendra on a ship en route to London from Mumbai. Both of them decide to share stories to bring some life to an otherwise boring journey. Vasant Gujarati Natya Utsav 2017 with its fresh line-up of experimental productions promises to captivate the audiences, yet again.

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