CHENNAI: Are you a theatre buff who loves history, heritage, culture and spirituality? Here is your chance to witness a convergence of all of these on stage. With skillfully crafted scenes, magnificent backdrops, dramatic artistes and endearing creativity, Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) brings to Namma Chennai a theatre production — Yugpurush- Mahatma Ke Mahatma, to commemorate the 150th birth Anniversary of its founder Shrimad Rajchandra.
Directed by acclaimed director Rajesh Joshi of Code Mantra fame, and scripted by playwright Uttam Gada of Maharathi fame, the play premiered in November, in Mumbai marking the beginning of the 150th year. The play which is primarily in Guajarati, has also been released in Hindi, English and other regional languages.
“After a stupendous success in Gujarati, the play premiered in Hindi at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai. Yugpurush and its uplifting message is now travelling all over India and across globe with daily shows in multiple languages,” said Abhaybhai Jasani, president, SRMD. In January 2017.
The story which begins with Gandhi who meeting Shrimad for the first time in Mumbai, upon his return from England as a barrister in 1891, has already been acclaimed by audience as a historic and dramatic masterpiece with the potential to trigger a social renaissance in modern India. The play is a portrayal of the spiritual relationship between Shrimad and Gandhi and showcases the formative influence the man had on the Father of the Nation.
“The play highlights the values of expanding ones’ capacity to love and give selflessly, respecting diversity, upholding truth, fostering trust, and building lasting communities.
I believe that the legacies of Shrimadji and Gandhiji continue to offer new paradigms to global peace and human progress. The force that influenced Gandhiji’s ideas and guided his beliefs, the entity that contributed in the making of the Mahatma - Shrimad Rajchandraji is revered for his great spiritual state,” shared Atmarpit Maulikji, secretary, SRMD.
The music has been scored by renowned composers Sachin-Jigar and the play has completed over 65 shows since November 2016, and has a lineup of 93 shows (37 in Mumbai, 11 in Maharashtra, 15 in South India and 30 in Gujarat) in the next 12 months.
“It will traverse through cities like Belagavi, Hubballi, Goa, Mangaluru, Mysore, Kozhikode, Kochi, Coimbatore, Salem, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Hospet, Ballari, Raichur, Solapur, Ichalkaranji, Sangli, Kolhapur and Pune; followed by Gujarat in February and April, East India in March, Europe in May, North America in June - July, Middle East and Africa in September, and Australia and South East Asia in November,” added Abhaybhai.
The play will be staged at Chinmaya Heritage Centre, Harrington Road, Chetpet today, between 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. For details, visit: www.yugpurush.org