Playwright-director and actor Santosh Pawar has found himself in the spotlight ever since the blast at Gadkari Rangaytan, Thane, Maharashtra, where his new play, Aamhi Pachpute, was scheduled to perform.
Incidentally, another blast at Vishnudas Bhave Natyagraha in Navi Mumbai, 30 km from Mumbai, was averted on May 31, when the bomb was discovered by members of the audience. The same play, Aamhi Pachpute, was scheduled to play at the venue.
Quite a few pro-Hindutva organisations have objected strongly to the play's content and dialogues, and have protested outside the theatres. But Pawar doesn't think there is a link between these protests and the bomb blast. He doesn't feel that he or his play is being targeted either.
"I don't think there is any link between these bombs and the protests about my play," he says. "It is merely coincidence. There is nothing objectionable in my play. Aamhi Pachpute is about five brothers fighting for the ownership of a paan shop."
He adds that the shows will go on as planned after reviewing the situation with the police and related theaters.
Five years ago, Pawar had written a Marathi play called Yadakadachit, which had some direct references to the Mahabharat. It collected some state awards and accolades, as well as strong protests from the saffron brigade. The matter was taken to the Bombay high court, which gave it police protection. But every time the play was staged, pro-Hindutva organisations protested against it by holding rallies outside the venue.
Earlier this year, Pawar rewrote the entire play changing the background and toning down the objectionable content. Yet, his efforts could not pacify the protestors.
Pawar has directed many plays including Bhaiyya Hatpay Pasari which was about the outsiders issue taken up by some political parties.
Santosh Kanekar, producer of Aamhi Paachpute, said this play was shown to some organisations. An organisation had some reservations about the play but said it had no religious or politically objectionable content.