Monday,
December 6, 1999 to Monday, December 13, 1999
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Dr.
Laxman Deshpande
He
is a Guinness Book Record holder for the largest no of shows of his legendary
one-act play "Varhad Nighalaya Londonla" in the world. He is the Head of
the Drama Department of Dr. BAMU and a very professional actor. He has proved
one can rise from soil and still can reach the sky. The internationally
acclaimed dramatist speaks about the his devotion, his memorable moments,
his perilous journey towards success & the future prospectus in an
exclusive interview given to Aurangabad-online News. |
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#
1: what conceived you of the idea behind
"Varhad Nighayala Londonla"? |
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Dr. Deshpande:
During my childhood days, I wanted to register my own personality. So when
I came up first with the concept of 'Varhad', I was a little disturbed.
Then, I came to read about the Bharata's Natyashastra, I realised that
we can present very elegant piece of play using minimum properties. I was
enthused with the concept of one-man show. It was a great feeling of presenting
an illusion of many actors on the stage by a single man. Then the theme
of the play was quite very nice and I liked to act in different roles myself.
This was the thing that told me that I too can make wonder through this. |
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#2: Tell
us more about the days when Varhad was young and you have to do a hard
job to make it popular? |
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Dr. Deshpande:
In 1976, I completed my Masters of Drama and I presented the Varhad's first
play at my felicitation. People there really enjoyed the concept and they
gave a spontaneous and warm response. The news spread like a storm and
then i started to present this show in front of people. I performed at
parties, operas, marriage ceremonies and any social gatherings that invited
me. I used to get 11 Rs. and a coconut. I made upto 100 shows free of cost
in Aurangabad.
Then I went to Mumbai which is considered as the Jerusalem of the entrepreneurs.
There I performed around 300 shows and Mumbai press gave me huge publicity.
I worked in shifts throughout the day and then I was riding high on the
wave of publicity. Then people started to recognize me and appreciate me
in the form of different awards that I received from them.
At
that time, I didn't knew my price. I used to get Rs. 251. Then Rs. 551
but then I thought that I should also get what I deserve. So, I started
taking the right amount of money. People came and they gave me at start,
Rs. 1000, Rs. 5000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 25,000 and on. Now I am happy that
my efforts are carved in the history. |
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#3: How
do you come to know about the record no of plays in Guinness Book of World
Record? |
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Dr. Deshpande:
My sons, who I am thankful, came to see the Guinness Book of World Records
and they found that the maximum no of shows enlisted for anybody throughout
the world are 700 where at that time, I had crossed 1500 shows mark. When
I finished the 2000th show, I collected all the documents and send them
to the authorities. Noteworthy is that I had kept a solid record of all
the shows, all the correspondence done to me by the organising people.
I send the all records to the International panel which reviewed them and
then I was conveyed on 26th of March this year that my claim was considered
valid and I was given the accreditation from them. |
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#4: You
In these many years you have travelled so many countries, please tell us
about some moments which touched the most? |
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Dr. Deshpande: First,
Well, there are many moments which touched me deeply. But one memory is
really very vivid and that I experienced in London. I was on the tour of
'Varhad Nighalaya Londonla' and was performing in London. There was a mass
of audience enjoying my show. But there was an NRI Indian who was a scientist
but unfortunately, who was blind. He was a connoisseur of Marathi plays
as he was of Marathi origin. He was listening to me. He was accompanied
by his wife.
while I was performing, as you know, I play 52 different characters. He
was asking to his wife how many people are there performing on the stage.
His wife answered one each time he asked the same question as he listened
the voice of different character. Then after the show was over he came
to me and asked me how it is possible for me to act in these many characters.
When I told him the theory behind the play, he was very pleased and he
in front of the whole audience gave me blessings and I was very touched
by it. I consider that it was my greatest achievement that I can make his
ears as his real eyes who really saw me in different 52 characters. |
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#5: After
touching this peak of success, what are your future plans? |
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Dr. Deshpande:
I was inspired by the legendary Saint Dnyaneshwar and the Ajanta caves
whose existence is still marking the time. I have completed 2031th show.
I want to perform more shows and want to reach that place from where nobody
can get me down. |
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Dr. Deshpande in
a gesture of a character in "Varhad Nighalaya Londonla" |
