“Ghashiram’s universality can be interpreted in different times and yet will ring true,” says Mohan Agashe

PUNE Mohan Agashe was in his 20’s when he was offered the role of Nana Phadnavis, a character he has been most recognised as, albeit it was not the way he wanted to be known

PUNE Mohan Agashe was in his 20’s when he was offered the role of Nana Phadnavis, a character he has been most recognised as, albeit it was not the way he wanted to be known. As the play Ghashiram Kotwal enters its 50th year, Agashe takes a walk down the memory lane.

Mohan Agashe was in his 20’s when he was offered the role of Nana Phadnavis in a play-Ghashiram Kotwal. (HT PHOTO)

Looking back to the role of Nana Phadnavis, how does it feel to be known as a cult hero?

It is probably the first time that Nana’s character has been recognised as a cult figure. He was a character who was a womaniser, a politician and very astute, clever and dignified person, but it feels good that it has an identity of being part of cult hero. People still like the old Nana Phadnavis played by me. Initially, it felt good and also enjoyed the attention, but later it was disturbing, as I was performing in other plays like Kheliya in 1976, or Begam Barve, and there was always a departing line from the audience who came to watch these plays, that although you were good, there is no Nana as the way you acted. It’s like Nana Phadnavis was interfering in my other roles.

When you first read the script, what was going on in your mind?

It will difficult to remember what was happening in my mind 49 years ago, but since Vijay Tendulkar has written it as a new experimental play, it took precedence over everything else. To begin rehearsals of Ghashiram Kotwal, we closed down shows of ‘Ashi Pakhare yeti’, a play which repaid all the debts of Progressive Dramatic Association (PDA). No one knew about the play then. We had just passed from BJ medical college and trusted Jabbar Patel to direct. We had a lot of trust in him, he is a gifted director, Ghashiram Kotwal got him his first offer to make a Marathi film Samna.

If the play was done today, how would you see Nana Phadnavis’ character played?

I doubt it would have the same impact as it did then. The way things have gone in the recent times, I don’t even know if such a play will be allowed. There was a reason for this play, showcasing effects of powerful people on the commoners, then we also had resistance from the local political party Shiv Sena, but now it won’t have the same impact as it is an established play. Besides we lost Ghashiram when actor Ramesh Tilekar who made Ghashiram popular died and so are the others like Anand Modak, Nandu Pol who were part of the human curtain.

Does the play’s premise still retain itself in the contemporary world?

Absolutely, the premise still works. One of the reasons for the play to be popular is that is it about the universal truth, how absolute power corrupts, how people in power create monsters out of common man and when the purpose is served, they are thrown aside. Gashiram ‘s universality of the play can be interpreted in different times and yet will ring true. The introduction of the play by Tendulkar itself suggests that Ghashiram is not a historical play, it is a telltale story set in music, verse and dance and no intention of commenting on Nana, Ghashiram or Peshwai. If at all there is a moral in the story, look for it elsewhere.