A satire exploring politics and relationships through Indian mythology
The award-winning musical, Ekadashavtar or the eleventh incarnation traces back to the Indian myth of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. It takes us to a small village called Budrukwadi, and explores their friendships, relationships and politics with a pinch of humour.
A musical on life, relationships, politics and the myth of Lord Vishnu
The award-winning musical, Ekadashavtar or the eleventh reincarnation traces back to the Indian myth of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. Far away, in a village called Budrukwadi, an annual funfair is being organised. The current head (bhavsha) and sarpanch are embroiled in their own politics as the head of the fair is also a potential candidate for the post of the village sarpanch.
Meanwhile, as part of the fair, the bhavsha has organised a play based on Vishnu. However, due to unavoidable circumstances, the group fails to reach on time and when they do, the actor playing the role of Lord Vishnu does not come with them. This ‘play within a play’ highlights the predicament the villagers are facing along with a solution and balances the strong social message of the play with a pinch of humour.
HIMANI KULKARNI
Costume Designer
SACHIN GAONKAR
Set Designer
JAYESH VAVHAL
Bhavshya
AJINKYA MANCHEKAR (SHANKAR)
Kailya and Shankar
MANDAR PILWALKAR
PRAJAKT DESHMUKH
Play-Wright
RANJIT PATIL
Director
SONAL GAIKAR (NIVEDIKA - ANCHOR)
Nivedika
SUHAS ALDAR (POET)
Poet
CAST
Shreenath Mhatre
Kirtankar and Narad
Sandesh Dugje
Taatya
Omkar More
Member
Umesh Yadav
Naarya
Yugandhar Salvi
Patrakaar
Ninad Jadhav
Sarpanch
Yogesh Yadav
Villager 1
Roshan Hake
Villager 2
Swagat Medge
Aadya and Bramha
Swanand Ketkar
Devya and Indra
Yash Yadav
Pintya, Amukasur
Ameya Lad
Ameya, Tamukasur
Rohan Rahate
Vishya, Chandradev
Pranav Sawant
Barkya
Ganesh Kanerkar
Barber
Dhiraj Maule
Old Man
CREW
Sanket Ghodvinde
Musician
Ketan Chaudhari
Musician
Mangesh Mahajan
Musician
Shubham Bhingardeve
Music Operator
Bunty Kale
Sound Operator
Amogh Phadake
Light Designer
Mayur Shinde
Light Assistant
Sharad Sawant
Make-up Artist
Shantanu Salvi
Co-ordinator
Manish Hate
Vice-Principal
Ramchandra Gaonkar
Concept
RANJIT PATIL
Ranjit Patil is an actor, director, and set designer. He grew up in Kolhapur and came to Mumbai for further...
studies. While completing his education, he started working in many intercollegiate one-act play competitions. Initially he won many awards as an actor and he also attended and worked in various productions directed by theatre legend Pt. Satyadev Dubey. Over the course of his career, Ranjit has directed many experimental plays which have won several awards at Indian National Theatre, Sawaai, Youth Festival, Mrugajal, and Spandan. Some of his award-winning plays include Dengueshi Ladhaai, Ziprya, Sangeet Sharda, Nich Manus, Half Pant, Malab, Ghootan, and Ekaadashavtar, Budrukwadicha Maruti Baatla. He has also worked on the ZEE Marathi show, Dil Dosti Dobaara and has recently wrapped up as script supervisor for the web-series, Kaale Dhande. Currently he is working as part of the direction team for a reality show on Zee Marathi called, Maharastracha Superstar.
Best Director
SACHIN GAONKAR
Sachin Gaonkar is a well-known set designer who has worked across experimental as well as commercial plays. He completed his...
education in BFA(Bachelor in Fine Arts) from the presttigious Sir JJ School of Art. He has designed props and masks for the popular Alyque Padamsee play, Macbeth. He has also designed sets for many award-winning one-act plays such as Girgaon Via Dadar, Rashoman, Mazi Aai, Ticha Baap, Sangeet Matsyagandha, and Chi Sau Ka Rangbhumi. Apart from this, Sachin has participated in theatre workshops conducted by Pt. Satyadev Dubey, Prashant Dalvi, and Waman Kendre. He has also been the recipient of the Maharashtra State Government Gold Medal for the Marathi play Dozakh.
Best Stage Design
MANDAR PILWALKAR
Mandar Ashok Piwalkar comes from a family of musicians and started learning the tabla under his father at the young...
age of 3. Later, he became an apprentice to Pandit Mansing Javer ji, and went on to sing for various movies, professional theatre plays, private fusion band albums, and television serials. Mandar also mentors students from Mumbai University for their folk orchestra and singing competitions at a state, national and international level. He is currently learning vocals under Padmashree Ustad Rashid Khan.
Best Innovative Sound Design
HIMANI KULKARNI
Himani Dhananjay Kulkarni’s journey with costume designing started at Ramnarain Ruia College (Ruia Natyavalay). Born and brought up in Mumbai,...
she is currently pursuing a course in fashion design in INIFD Bandra. She has worked well-known stylists Saylee Marathe and Shalmalee Tolye and has worked on costumes for plays like Ekadashavatar, Budrukwadicha Maruti Batla and Dronayan.
Best Costume Design
JAYESH VAVHAL
Jayesh Vavhal has been born and brought up in Mumbai and has been working as a theatre- actor for the...
past 5 years. He has acted in many plays like Gardish, Ekaadashavtar, and Budrukwadicha Maruti Batla. He has also been the recipient of various awards at competitions such as the Indian National Theatre and Loksatta Lokankika.
Best Actor in a Lead Role (Male)
SUHAS ALDAR (POET)
Suhas Aldar has been working in theater for the last 4 years as a part of the Ramnarayan Ruia College...
(Ruia Natyavalay). He has played various characters in one-act plays like Laila on the Rocks, Gardish, Sangeet Ghagre ke Piche, Ekadashavatar and Budrukwadicha Maruti Batla. He has received an ‘Appreciation Certificate for Acting’ at the Indian National Theatre competition.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)
AJINKYA MANCHEKAR (SHANKAR)
Ajinkya Manchekar has been an active member of Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College’s theatre group for the past 4 years and...
has represented them in various inter-collegiate competitions . He has played versatile roles in plays such as, Laila on the Rocks, Gardish, Sangeet Ghagre ke Piche, and Ekadashavatar. He received a consolation prize in acting at the Indian National Theatre competition and has also worked in the web-series Kaale Dhande on Zee5.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)
SONAL GAIKAR (NIVEDIKA - ANCHOR)
Sonal Gaikar has been acting for the past 4 years as part of . Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College’s theatre group....
She has acted in many one-act plays such as Gardish, Sangeet Ghagre ke Piche, and Ekadashavatar.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female)
PRAJAKT DESHMUKH
Prajakt Deshmukh is a name associated with experimental and commercial theatre in India. He is known for his versatility as...
a playwright, director and an actor. Born in Nashik, he has been active in the theatre community since 2005. He has written many award winning one-act plays like Haminastu, 12 km, Hiareth, Not Exactly Pan Sort Of, Moon Without Sky, Something Grey , Panipuri, Rainmaker, Do Bajniye, Afu(Musical), Ekaadashavtar and Budrukwadicha Maruti Baatla. He has also written and directed the Marathi musical, Sangeet Devbabhli, which has been acknowldged by Forbes magazine as an important part of Marathi Commercial Theatre. He has been the receipient of various awards such as the Maharashtra Government Award- Ram Ganesh, Gadkari, G.B Deval Award, Acharya Atrey Award, Vijay Tendulkar Award by Maharashtra State , Yashwant Chavan State Literature Award, Zee Natya Gaurav, MA TA Sanman, Akhil Bharitiya Marathi Natya Parishad, as well as the Maharashtra Government State Commercial Play Award for writing and direction. Parjakt Deshmukh has also written the script for Zee Natya Gaurav Awards and the short film In Search of Vitthal, which was the winner of Euarasia Film Festival and was selected to be showcased in the National Film Archives of India. Currently, he is mentoring actors in a reality show called, Maharashtacha Superstar on Zee Marathi.
Best Original Script
The play was indeed very challenging as it was important to maintain a balance between the humour and the serious parts of the play to achieve the desired impact. As the play is based in rural India, at a visual level too, we needed to make it look authentic with sets, lighting and music. The approach to character and dialogue delivery had to be fleshed out and it was a tremendous task to successfully convery they playwright’s message.