Sangeet Sharada is an 1899 Marathi Sangeet Natak (Musical play), written and directed by playwright Govind Ballal Deval. The play is considered as the first play in Marathi to showcase the social problems and broke the norms by dealing with the subject of child marriage when dramatic literature in India mainly focused on historical-mythological narrations.
Over the period of time, various stage actors like Bal Gandharva, Vishnupant Pagnis, Bhalchandra Pendharkar have performed the lead role of Sharada. Going with the format of Sangeet Natak, play had more than 50 songs, penned and composed by Govind Ballal Deval himself and music attained a cult status over the period of time.
The play "is considered to be a pioneer in social drama in India" and gained the popularity in such a way that when the Child Marriage Restraint Act, proposed by Haribilas Sarda, also known "Sarda Act", was passed in 1929; it was mistaken to be named after the play as "Sharada Act".
Plot Bhujanganath, a geriatric widower, wants to marry one more time so that he can have heir to his property, thus befriends Bhadreshwar Dixit, a middleman, who would help him in finding a young bride. Though a well known person in the village, Dixit finds difficulties in getting a bride for Bhujanganath, as nobody agrees for the proposal because of his old age. Dixit convinces Bhujanganath to visit other villages to search for brides and advises him to behave like a wealthy person, which would make it easier to get a bride for Bhujanganath.
Both along with Kodand, a young orphaned Purohit, visit Gangapur and manage to convince people in the village that Bhujanganath is a rich and young man. Kanchanbhat who wishes to marry his young teenage daughter, Sharada, to a rich person hears about Bhujanganath's arrival in the village. He approaches Dixit with the help of one of his friends, Suvarnashastri and readily accepts the proposal when Dixit proposes 5000 as dowry in marriage. Indirakaku, Kanchanbhat's wife and Sharada's mother, disagrees for the marriage when she learns the truth about Bhujanganath. When Kodand visits Kanchanbhat's house along with Dixit, he opposes the marriage and threatens Dixit and Bhujanganath that he will tell the truth and will also lodge a complaint in the police station as the proposed marriage is planned between an old person and a teenager. Frightened Dixit locks Kodand in the basement.
With Kodand missing, villagers start inquiring about Bhujanganath and Dixit. Sharada, after meeting Bhujanganath in person, opposes for the marriage but her father Kanchanbhat does not pay any heed and starts the preparation for the marriage. With the help of a friend, Kodand manages to escape from the custody.
On the day of marriage, Kodand accompanied by police, reaches the marriage venue and exposes Bhujanganath and Dixit. Police arrests both of them. Sharada runs away from the venue and decides to commit suicide. But Kodand convinces Sharada and proposes her for the marriage. Sharada accepts the proposal and both of them decides to get married.
Characters The play had number of characters. Some of them even had songs which were rendered by themselves.
Bhujanganath (Shrimant): a 75-year-old widower Kodand: an orphaned Purohit and male protagonist Kanchanbhat: Sharada's father Janhavi, Sharayu, Vallari, Mandakini, Triveni and Tunga: Sharada's friends Bhadreshwar Dixit: a middleman Sharada: a teenager, young bride and female protagonist Indirakaku: Sharada's mother Jayant: Sharada's younger brother
Hiranyagarbha (Shyamsundar), Suvarnashastri, Shitikanth, Pushkarbhat, Kaustubh, Upadhyay, Kotwal, Bimbacharya, Vetalik, Ramanandcharya, Jagadguru: villagers and other characters
List of songs The play, being a musical, had plenty of songs. All the songs were penned and composed by Govind Ballal Deval.
Act One
Track # Title Character Notes 01 "Shankarpad Vandi Aadhi" Chorus Naandi; Raag: Hameer; Taal: Chautal 02 "Saukhya Purna Devo Tumha" Chorus Naandi; Raag: Bahar; Taal: Tintal 03 "Abhiruchi Kona Shringarachi" Narrator Saki 04 "Parichit Jo Ya Rasikjana" Narrator Saki 05 "Ajuni Khula Ha Naad" Narrator Raag: Jhinjoti; Taal: Tintal 06 "Adoor Darshitwane Kewal" Narrator Saki 07 "Kaay Purush Chalale Bai" Narrator Raag: Pilu; Taal: Tintal 08 "Jarath Ituka Tari" Narrator Dindi 09 "Porasah Thor Kiti" Bhujanganath 10 "Nivartali Ti, Tevhapasuni" Bhujanganath Katav 11 "Sundar Khashi Subak Thengani" Bhujanganath 12 "Paushtik Balviryajanak Aushadhe" Bhujanganath 13 "Pratakale Shiva Drushtava" Bhadreshwar Shlok 14 "Name Bramhan, Khara" Kodanda Saki 15 "Jatharanal Shamavaya Neecha" Kodanda Raag: Adana; Taal: Tintal 16 "Jo Bhed Vidhine" Kodanda 17 "Ye Kaal Kasa Viparit" Kodanda 18 "Ha Jarathkumarivivah" Kodanda 19 "Anyadharmi Bhoopal Aaryabhucha" Kodanda Dindi 20 "Swarthi Ji Preeti Manujachi" Kodanda 21 "Wani Taishi Karni" Kodanda Saki 22 "Jari Karin Sakal Khalkarya" Kodanda 23 "Jari Varun Dhuvat Sovala" Kodanda 24 "Baghuni Tya Bhayankar" Sharada 25 "Jan Khulawale, Sakal Ulat Chalale" Sharada 26 "Ish Chinta Nivaril Saari" Sharada Taal: Deepchandri 27 "Jaagrut Theva, Lagnachi Hi Smriti" Kodanda Taal: Dadra 28 "Jay Krishnatatvasa" Sharada Raag: Sarang; Taal: Dadra
Act Two
Track # Title Character Notes 01 "Balpanich Kaal Sukhacha" Sharada Taal: Dhumali 02 "Kadhi Karti Lagna Majhe" Sharada 03 "Jari Kuna Shrimantachi" Indirakaku 04 "Tarun Kulin Gora" Indirakaku 05 "Sawala Var Bara" Kanchanbhat 06 "Agadich Tu Vedi" Kanchanbhat 07 "Nako Vivahchi Majala" Bhujanganath 08 "Madhyasthachi Ase Kushalata" Bhujanganath 09 "Mee Nase Jari Bhyaad Jaaticha" Bhujanganath Kamada 10 "Maj Game Aisa" Kodand 11 "Bimbadhara, Madhura" Kodand 12 "Bhetato Me Jaavoni Bhrujangala" Kodand Dindi 13 "Man Kiti Utavil" Bhujanganath 14 "Naka Karu Avichar" Kodand 15 "Bal Jyache Tyas Te" Kanchanbhat 16 "Swanahun Ati Neech Tumhi" Kodand 17 "Tu Papi Adhamadham Khalakshaay" Kodand 18 "Bhare Kapre, Bhrame Drushti" Kanchanbhat Saki
Act Three
Track # Title Character Notes 01 "Gheuni Ye Pankha Valyacha" Vallari 02 "Shrimant Patichi Rani" Janhavi 03 "Tu Shrimantin Khari Shobashil" Janhavi 04 "Mhatara Na Ituka" Vallari 05 "Jarathas Tarun Ho Stree Jari" Tunga 06 "Murtimant Bhitee Ubhi" Sharada 07 "Lagna Hoy Char Diwas" Bhujanganath 08 "Yeil Majhi Bhavi Kanta" Bhujanganath 09 "Kanthi Jhalake Angathi" Bhujanganath Dindi 10 "Vaatu Na Yaava Vishad Chitta" Sharada 11 "Khachit Khachit He Nashibanche" Sharada 12 "Drushti Bhare Jalbhor" Kodand 13 "Jo Lokakalyan" Kodand 14 "Kakdrushti Bhadreshwar Ghatak" Kodand Saki 15 "Radasi Kaay Mhanuni" Indirakaku 16 "Aamhi Gaayi Jaatichya" Sharada 17 "Tumhi Garib Mhanuni Jari Majha" Sharada Raag: Jog; Taal: Dhumali 18 "Yamapasha, Galyashi Jyas Lagala" Sharada 19 "Maya Jalali Ka" Indirakaku Raag: Mand; Taal: Dadra 20 "Dilya Taruna Tari Hoti" Kanchanbhat Dindi 21 "Tu Taak Chiruni Hi Maan" Sharada
Act Four
Track # Title Character Notes 01 "Lagna Navhe Maran Udya" Sharada 02 "Maagil Janmiche, Atache" Sharada 03 "Koni Kahi Naka Shikavu Aata" Sharada 04 "Pal Ghadi, Ghadi Din Bhasatase" Bhujanganath 05 "Bhalya Manasa, Daslakhachi Goshta" Bhujanganath Fatka 06 "Himnag Jo Pashanhriday" Vallari 07 "Vruddhapani Ti Navadara" Janhavi 08 "Jhala Sang Vivah" Chorus Sholk 09 "Bramhan Saare Jamala" Kodand 10 "Aadhi Tujhya Ya Dukhane" Indirakaku 11 "Mee Samaju Tari Kaay" Sharada 12 "Mya Lotali Sankati" Kodand
Act Five
Track # Title Character Notes 01 "Ghat Teen Dhanane Bharale" Kanchanbhat 02 "Haal Ikadache Pahavaya Ka" Indirakaku 03 "Nashibi Ase Nach Te Tale" Indirakaku Raag: Bhairavi; Taal: Tintal 04 "Te Kutil Kapati" Kodand 05 "Bhumisadan Dhanahin Asa Mee" Kodand Saki 06 "Naagini Chapal Khaljivha" Kodand 07 "Saday Shant Asasi Marana" Sharada 08 "Jee Mala Janm De" Sharada 09 "Thamb, Thamb, Karisi Asa" Kodand 10 "Kaay Me Abhagini" Sharada Raag: Kanada; Taal: Dadra 11 "Ghei Mam Vachan He" Kodand 12 "Haa Baldiwakar Kari" Kodand 13 "Jevha Vaad Bhara Aala" Hriranyagarbha 14 "Gruhalakshmi Hi Stree" Jagadguru Saki 15 "Jarathe Na Vivaha Karava" Kodand 16 "Sumantrimandal Saarvabhaumini" Chorus
In society Prior to staging of Sangeet Sharada, plays with historical and mythological stories were popular in Marathi theater. With a message to abolish child marriage from society, the play became "a pioneer in social drama in India" in 1899. The show gained popularity in such a way that when Child Marriage Restraint Act, also known as "Sarda Act", was passed, it was mistaken to be named after the play as "Sharada Act". Passed on 28 September 1929, the act was proposed by Haribilas Sarda and was actually called so after his surname.
The songs of the drama still remain popular. The song "Mhatara Ituka na" was used in 2011 Marathi film Balgandharva. Recently in January 2012, a modern version of the play Sangeet Sharada - A Reality Show was staged in Mumbai. The revived play gave a modern perspective to the play. All songs from the original drama were used; some used the new genre of music in them. The play was staged by employees of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. In 2011, the play was also transliterated into Braille script.
Incidentally, on 21 December 1909 while the play was being performed at the Vijayanand Natyagruha, Nashik, the then British Collector of Nashik, A. M. T. Jackson was shot dead by the freedom fighter Anant Laxman Kanhere. The play was being performed by Annasaheb Kirloskar's Kirloskar Natak Mandali where the lead role of Sharada was being played by Bal Gandharva.
References
External links
Sangeet Sharada: Complete Script Songs of the play