Originally written in Marathi by Shri Kedar Shinde a renowned director, actor and writer, Dadaji Ki Thullu is a Hindi play that is complete family entertainer. A light-hearted play for all ages, it’s perfect for an evening out. Having done 500 plays in Marathi, this is the first time the play is being adapted in Hindi after Sandeep Paranjape, the director translated it. Paranjape elaborates, “This play has been on my mind for about four years, but things didn’t fall into place. With the current cast, I felt that this was the perfect time to do the play.” The story line gives an insight into a family with royal roots who are now living the life of a lower middle class family.
Sandeep adds, “At six pm everyday, the family’s great grandfather who was the Raja Saheb visits them. He is short-tempered, and wants things to be as they were when he was alive, with all the royal finery. He wants to be treated in the exact same manner. How the family deals with this forms the crux of the story.” Unlike other plays that happen in the city, the main motive of this team is to ensure that people come and enjoy. The team also plans to take the play to Hyderabad and Belgaum next.
This adaptation has a string of unique characters that add their own flavour to the comedy. Ameya Moghe plays Virendra Singh a happy-go-lucky guy who enjoys life, he adds, “Virendra, the current head of the family, loves each one, and has no regrets and is proud of his legacy. I think it has become a norm that every household has one person who is extremely religious and is a person who prays to multiple gods. Lakshmi Karthik who essays the role of Bharathi says, “Bharathi has three kids, one married, one of marriageable age and the other is the youngest. Bharathi is very religious and turns to god when things go downhill.”
Lakshmi felt it was a real challenge to play Bharathi as she is very soft-spoken and religious. Avinash Muddappa essays the role of Raja Jagat Singh who visits his family everyday at 6 pm. “Apart from Raja Jagat Singh, I also play Jagu, the youngest. This is a one of a kind role for me as I have had to switch from Jagu, a 20-year-old who behaves like a 15-year-old to Raja Jagat Singh. Both are quite different from each other. It was truly a learning experience as I had to learn the mannerisms of two different characters. It was also challenging as I had to switch instantly from character to character,” he signs off.
— The play is set to be staged at Alliance Francaise on July 15.
