Pune: Ganapati festival in most cities is about larger-than-life idols, bright lights, and echoes of dhol-tasha and DJ drowning every street in devotion. In Pune, it is also about every nook and corner turning into open-air theatres. Jivant Dekkhavas, or live plays that recreate episodes from history, mythology and everyday social life, staged by Ganapati mandals, are a big attraction to the crowd.From a delivery agent transforming into Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, to a school music teacher juggling three different productions across the city, and a film make-up artist aging 20-somethings into 70-year-olds overnight, these plays thrive on passion as much as devotion.On other days, Rajendra Palve (35) is a music teacher who teaches in schools as well as runs his own music academy called Aradhana Sangeet Vidyalaya. But come Ganpati festival, Palve is a busy man. “This year, three mandals asked me to direct their plays. Pune is a city of culture, and theatre runs in the veins of Punekars. Hence Jivant Dekhava always gets a huge response from people,” said Palve.Plays directed by him include one at Prabhat Pratishthan, a historical drama about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; a play with a social message urging children to care for their elderly parents, performed at Rashtriya Sattoti Haud mandal; and another in Khandoba Mitramandal Bhosari about the welfare state during Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s era, which also addresses the evils of female foeticide and dowry.Most of these plays start at 7 pm and run until midnight, with shows repeated multiple times each hour. “We were booked 1.5 months before the Ganpati festival began, and this will continue till September 4. My wife does the make-up for these plays,” added Palve. There is high demand for talented actors in Jivant Dekhava, so they are booked well in advance.For Babasaheb Telure (36), who acts in Marathi TV serials and movies, playing a part in Jivant Dekahavas for 10 days is like an annual pilgrimage. “Working here is not about money. This is my way to pay obeisance to the deity of performing arts, as theatre is where I started my acting career. Hence, for 10 days, I only work on these plays. Currently, I am playing the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the dekhava by Eki Tarun Mandal near Karve statue in Kothrud,” said Telure.Vinay Bhagat (32) is usually a delivery partner, but during the Ganpati festival, he transforms into various historical figures, much to the delight of the crowd. “Last year, I played the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at a mandal in Pune. Impressed with my performance, a mandal from Baramati booked me for this year, and now I am portraying Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj here. The pay is better, and each evening attracts a larger audience,” said Bhagat, who also acted in the short film The Story of Yuvraj and Shahajahan, which explores the courage to love in a society that condemns homosexuality. Some professional artists offer their services as an act of devotion to Ganpati and the community in general.Sudhakar Thombre (40), a professional make-up artist with two decades of experience in film and theatre, says he has been working with Jivant Dekhava for the past 10 years. “The feedback from people is immediate when you perform such plays, where crowds stand right next to the stage, lighting is very bright, and all kinds of noise prevail, yet your play must stand out. Unlike camera make-up, here everything needs to be a bit extra — whether costumes or make-up. My actors are typically 25 and 22 years old, but they portray characters aged 75 and 65. If the make-up isn’t good, people will laugh. So it’s a challenge but also a rewarding experience,” said Thombre.
