Mahesh Elkunchwar has written and produced some of the most influential and progressive plays of post-independence India, and is part of the trilogy, with Vijay Tendulkar and Satish Alekar, who have shaped modern Marathi theatre. Elkunchwar's plays, with their wide-ranging themes–the passage of time and mortality, identity and sexuality, religious tension and gender issues, human bonding and alienation–focus on human relationships and personal and moral choices which are the classic concerns of all great works of literature. These plays–widely varied in thematic and stylistic content, and staged to critical and public acclaim–are a tribute to the dramatic vision and skill of a man whose contribution towards transforming the face of urban theatre in India has been seminal. This collection includes a comprehensive introduction by noted theatre critic Samik Bandyopadhyay, which provides valuable insights into the wide corpus of Mahesh Elkunchwar's work in the context of Indian and world theatre. The plays are translated by Shanta Gokhale, Supantha Bhattacharya and the playwright himself. Production histories of each play, the playwright's notes on his experience with Indian theatre, and a photo section depicting performances are valuable accompaniments. This volume will be indispensable for students and researchers of modern Indian theatre, Indian literature in translation and cultural studies, as well as theatre lovers across the world.
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