Satish Alekar has written, acted in, directed, and produced some of the most influential and progressive plays of post-independence India, and is part of the trinity, with Vijay Tendulkar and Mahesh Elkunchwar, that has shaped modern Marathi theatre. Alekar locates himself firmly in the performance rather than literary tradition, and is recognized internationally for his ability to use the stage to portray the many deceptions and fallacies of Indian society. His plays depict with wit and sensitivity, a world unable to come to terms with modernity and stifled by tradition. The plays in this collection are translated by Gauri Deshpande, Urmila Bhirdikar, Alok Bhalla with Jayant Dhupkar, Pramod Kale, Shanta Gokhale, and Priya Adarkar. The six plays are divided thematically into two sections and both sections include introductions by noted theatre critic, Samik Bandyopadhyay. The book also includes an insightful interview of Alekar by Bandyopadhyay, notes on the production histories of the included plays, and a special section containing photographs of the performances of these plays. A Collector’s item, this volume will be a valuable addition to the libraries of students and researchers of modern Indian theatre, Indian literature in translation, and cultural studies, as well as of theatre lovers across the world.
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