Khelo Marathi Play – There are very rare moments where you really appreciate the way the theatre is progressing. Khelo Marathi Natak, directed by Samer Sawant, is one such purely thrilling and suspense-gripping Natak (Play), that you must watch at least once.
Fortunately, I got a chance to cover and watch their very second show at Yashwant Natya Mandir Matunga. I have to say, I was completely stunned and impressed by how this Marathi play unfolded. The precise lighting, the detailed set design, the thrilling moments, and the horror gimmicks effects all demonstrate the heights that a Marathi play can achieve. It’s a testament to the Marathi Theatre Industry.
Therefore, here’s my blog outlining the Seven (7) reasons why you need to watch Khelo Marathi Natak.
- Khelo Marathi Natak Video
- 1. A Story With A Perfect Bang On Suspense
- 2. The Story Has A Nice Message To Spread
- 3. Absolutely Love The Jungle Like Set With Multiple Set Variations – Great Horror Gimmicks Live On Stage (You Would Have Never Seen Something Like This Live On Stage)
- 4. Great Set Of Actors – The Artists
- 5. Powerful Music and Theme Song
- 6. Hats off to the Makeup Person for Snehal Shidam’s Makeup
- 7. Do Not Miss The Ending
Khelo Marathi Natak Video
First and foremost, here’s a short video glimpse of Khelo Marathi Natak –
1. A Story With A Perfect Bang On Suspense
For any play or movie, indeed, having a strong plot or story is very very crucial. Equally important is how that story is delivered to the audience. For me, this matters a lot.
From what I experienced while watching Khelo Marathi Natak, it meets all these expectations. Since it’s a suspenseful play, I might not be able to reveal much about the storyline, but I can certainly share the central plot around which the Natak revolves.
The story of Khelo Natak revolves around a tradition that has been diligently and strictly followed by all the villagers for generations and generations in a small fictional village of Konkan. When we think of traditions, gods often come to mind, but this one involves demons (A Ghost or Bhoot).
Khelo Nataks talks about one such tradition known as – Gaavdadan. It is said that for two nights starting from Dussehra, the village is ruled by demons. And especially, during this time, no villager is allowed to come out of their houses and or roam freely in the village. For these two days, everyone must remain at their homes following the traditions and rules of Gaavdadan.
In the same village lives an 8-year-old girl named Bhairu (played by Neha Suresh Patole), who is full of questions. Such as,
- Why do we need to follow this tradition?
- What happens if we do not follow the tradition?
- Does this tradition have anything to do with any of the members of her family?
After two years of the pandemic, this year’s Gaavdadan brings a set of new questions to Bhairu’s mind. And, in order to get the answers to her questions, Bhairu eventually breaks the Gaavdadan.
Now what exactly is this Gaavdadan?
What happens to Bhairu after she tries to break the Gaavdadan?
What happens next in the village?
Does Bhairu get answers to all her questions?
Well, that is what the story and suspense of Khelo Natak will tell you. Something that you need to watch yourself in any of their upcoming shows.
2. The Story Has A Nice Message To Spread
Secondly, as mentioned earlier, the story is not only well-presented and keeps the audience engaged until the end, but it also delivers an important message about belief. It raises the question of whether we should blindly follow traditions just because our ancestors did, or if we should challenge and question its true meaning.
This is surely a nice element of Khelo Marathi Natak.
3. Absolutely Love The Jungle Like Set With Multiple Set Variations – Great Horror Gimmicks Live On Stage (You Would Have Never Seen Something Like This Live On Stage)
Thirdly, one of the most beautiful appreciating aspects of Khelo Marathi Play is its set design.
During an interview with VeryFirstTale, the lead actress, Snehal Shidam, mentioned, “Experimental plays (Prayogik Natak) usually don’t have such large sets, but the set of Khelo is truly massive and gigantic. There are literally multiple teams working behind the scenes and backstage to ensure everything on stage functions properly and looks perfect to the audience.”
Indeed, that’s true.
Furthermore, Khelo Marathi Natak portrays an impressive set that perfectly captures the look and feel of a jungle and a small village. In fact, they don’t just use one set design to show this, but, have several variations, which simply adds to the authenticity of the experience.
In addition to this, the set also includes some of the most surprising horror elements that I think are best experienced live. As an audience member, I was truly impressed by how they managed all the horror effects.
I must say, the horror elements in this play are unlike anything I’ve seen in a live performance before. They are literally something that you might see for the first time on a live stage. At least that’s what makes this play stand out.
4. Great Set Of Actors – The Artists
Fourth, having a talented group of actors who can express true emotions is very important for any play. Khelo Natak has a well-chosen cast that does an excellent job in this. Each actor performs their role with great sincerity, making it feel like a great live experience.
Additionally, special praises / mentions should go to Neha Suresh Patole, Sagar Kadam, and Snehal Shidam. They have all done an outstanding job in their roles. Neha, in particular, brings Bhairu’s character to life with great skill. Credit also goes to the director, Sameer for guiding the performances and actors so well.
5. Powerful Music and Theme Song
While the story and plot of Khelo Natak are engaging, the background music and title song also add to the excitement. The theme song, “Khelo,” perfectly matches the scenes, creating a powerful effect. The music and theme song were composed by Sankalp, and they truly bring the play to life. And, I believe, a powerful song like this is always a must for horror and suspense-filled Marathi Nataks like these.
6. Hats off to the Makeup Person for Snehal Shidam’s Makeup
Moving ahead, the most fascinating thing you’ll notice on all the posters of Khelo Marathi Natak is the face with bruises and peeling skin. This haunting image is also a major reason why people are booking tickets, out of awe and anticipation.
The face of the ghost, which you see everywhere on the play’s posters, is none other than our talented and beloved actress, Snehal Shidam. The transformation of Snehal into the main character of the play is truly impressive, and the makeup team deserves a lot of credit for the same.
Her first entry as the ghost on the stage is just very amazing and horrifying at the same time. You would literally get goosebumps during her first reval and entry. Interestingly, all you would hear from the audience would be cheers, whistles, and applause in appreciation during that scene.
7. Do Not Miss The Ending
Personally speaking, the ending of Khelo Marathi Natak just steals the show. And, I, just loved it.
Imagine you’re watching the final scene of this play, thinking everything is wrapped up and the story is about to end. But just then, the writer, Sachin Mistry, throws in a surprising twist that leaves you shocked, amazed, and covered in goosebumps. The ending perfectly sets the stage for the curtain to fall, making it a powerful conclusion to Khelo Marathi Natak.
Not all theatre plays manage to end with a bang, but Khelo does it perfectly.
Of course, it’s hard to capture everything in words when writing this blog, because Khelo Marathi Play is an experience that can be best enjoyed in live itself. Therefore, to find out what the story is, to see something new, and to witness unique horror effects live on stage, make sure you catch one of their upcoming shows.
If you loved reading my blog on Seven Reasons to watch Khelo Marathi Natak, then do like, comment and share your reviews and experiences for us to know. We would love to hear your thoughts on the same.
