Pu La Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy has arranged its annual PuLa Yuva Mahotsav from 8 to 12 November at Mumbai. This Mahotsav celebrates Theatre, Dance, Drama, music and artistes for the contemporary youth. P. L. Deshpande was not only a famous writer but he was also patron of various art forms. The Mahotsav will start at 3 pm on November 8 with Vaada Chirebandi, a drama written by Mahesh Elkunchwar and directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni will return to stage after twenty years. In the evening there will be ten different folk dance performances. The night will shine with the various one-act plays from 9 pm to 6 am. On November 9, the early morning will start with the musical performances by Classical singer Deepika Bhide and flute player Nash Nobert. From 10 am to 1 pm, there will be an interactive program with Mangesh Borgavkar, Milind Joshi, Atul Parchure, Vaishali Made, Gauri Kothari, Nandesh Umap and Samriddhi Pore. The anchoring will be by Jyoti Ambekar. At 4 pm, Mission Mummy Daddy, a children drama by Pratidnya Natyarang Sanstha. At 5: 30 pm, Girish Pande directed Manasaparees Mendhare baree will be performed. At 7 pm, a performance by Gazal maestro Bheemrao Panchale: Ek Jakham Sugandhi.
On November 10, ten different rockbands like Highway 61, Samved, Indo Gypsies, Laxmi Bomb, Darshn, Color Tales, Meghadhanush will perform from morning. At 4 pm, a poetic performance by Visubhau Bapat: Kutumb Rangalay Kaavyaat. From 6 pm onwards, classical dance performances by Amrita Panchal, Uma Dogra, Sumit Nagdeo and Vaibhav Arekar. On Tuesday, 10 am there will be a screening of Amhi Jato Amuchya Gaava, a film by Pula. At 4 pm, classical singing by Prashant Kalundrekar and At 6 pm, a drama by hearing challenged students- Bharari will be performed. At 7 pm, Mallakhamb demonstrations and from 7:30 pm, Shaaheeree Jalsa by Madhu Khamkar, Shantaram Chavan, Bhikaji Bhosle, Datta Thule, Krushnkant Jadhav, Nilesh Jadhav and Dada Manjerkar. On November 12, Smita Apte will perform Stree Vividha, a program encapsulating changes in the life of women since ancient times. At 4 pm, Utsav Maharashtracha, a program showcasing folk arts of Maharashtra. At 6 pm, Mayur Vaidya, a renowned choreographer will perform Sama: Ek Maihil. The Mahotsav will end by the evergreen “Vaaryaavarachee varaat” written by P. L. Deshpande.
Another highlight of this event will be various workshops in acting, costumes, anchoring, Shahiri, Mallkhamb, Odisi and Bharatantyam etc from November 9 to 12 between 11 am to 5 pm. All the programs, performances and workshops are free of cost.
