Mareez (play)

Mareez is a 2004 biographical play about mid-twentieth century Gujarati poet Mareez, written by Vinit Shukla and directed by Manoj Shah. One of Shah's long-running productions, it premiered on 16 November 2004 at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai.

Mareez
Written byVinit Shukla
Date premiered16 November 2004 (2004-11-16)
Place premieredPrithvi Theatre, Mumbai
Original languageGujarati
SubjectMareez
GenreBiographical play
Official site

Background

Directed by Manoj Shah and written by Vinit Shukla, the play narrates the life of Mareez. The play has been adapted by the author from Mareez's biography Mareez: Astitva Ane Vyaktitva (2001) written by Raeesh Maniar. The representation of Mareez has been influenced by Vincent van Gogh's autobiographical work Dear Theo and Charles Bukowski's biopic Barfly. The set features six paintings painted by Gulam Mohammed Sheikh.[1][2]

The play premiered on 16 November 2004 at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai.[3]

Cast and characters

The original cast included:[4]

  • Dharmendra Gohil as Mareez
  • Nayan Shukla as Mohsin, Mareez's son
  • Ishan Doshi as young Mohsin
  • Kumkum Das as Sona, Mareez's wife
  • Jay Upadhaya as Thakur
  • Aishwarya Mehta as Rabab, Mareez's girlfriend
  • Dayashamkar Pandey as Saadat Hasan Manto
  • Darshan Pandya as Indra
  • Pulkit Solanki
  • Pratik Gandhi
  • Rajive Bhatt
  • Shamath Mazumdar
  • Akash Desi
  • Hussaini Davawala
  • Pradeep Vegurlekar
  • Ashok Parmar

Reception

Mareez is one of Shah's long-running productions.[1]

Utpal Bhayani was impressed by Dharmendra Gohil's acting and called "Mareez was in his veins". He also praised director and writer for connecting Mareez with Manto and Ghalib. He also praised performances of Dayashankar Pande, Nayan Shukla and Kumkum Das. He also praised costumes, production, music, audios, backdrops and lighting. He found Mareez's Mushairas with other poets from which he became well known, missing from the play.[3]

Deepa Punjani of Mumbai Theatre Guide praised the performances, direction, writing and production. She found the presentation of various phases of Mareez's life interesting and engaging. She found the "drama of Mareez's life indulgent" but found the play "fresh" and important for literature and performance.[5]

Journalist Ashish Vashi praised Dharmendra Gohil's performance and called it "most remarkable and mesmerizing aspect of the play".[2]

In May 2023, Mohsin and Lalua, sons of Mareez, issued public notice regarding the lack of consent from them for the play. They sought compensation as the owners of intellectual property rights of Mareez. They had objected to the fictional events as well as private events from their father's life portrayed in the play.[6]

References
  1. Phukan, Vikram (26 June 2019). "Existential parables and tortured souls". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  2. Vashi, Ashish (26 March 2011). "Play on 'Ghalib of Gujarat' holds Amdavadis spellbound". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  3. Bhayani, Utpal (2005). Rangbhoomi 2004: Reviews of Dramas Performed on Stage in Different Languages and Other Articles on Theatre During 2004 (in Gujarati). Mumbai: Image Publication Pvt. Ltd. pp. 29–30. ISBN 81-7997-188-0.
  4. "Mareez (Gujarati play)". Indian Express. 3 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  5. Punjani, Deepa. "Mareez Play Review". www.mumbaitheatreguide.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  6. Soni, Nikunj (11 May 2023). "Heirs of iconic Gujarati poet Mareez issue public notice". Ahmedabad Mirror. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
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