Marathi Naatak Jar Tar Chi Goshta Review
Plot:
Radha and Samar, divorced after three years of marriage meet again at a resort. But suddenly confronted by their current partners, a love-hate past and present unfolds.
Rating:
Team:
Cast – Priya Bapat, Umesh Kamat, Aashutosh Gokhale, Pallavi Ajay.
Writer – Irawati Karnik
Director – Advait Dadarkar and Ranjit Patil
Producer – Nandu Kadam
Set Design – Sandesh Bendre
Music – Shreenath Mhatre
Lights – Amogh Phade
Costumes – Shweta Bapat
Review:
Almost after a decade, the chemistry oozing lead pair of Priya Bapat and Umesh Kamat (a real-life couple) are back on the stage with “Jar Tar Chi Goshta”! Supporting them are the ever so funny Aashutosh Gokhale and the energetic Pallavi Ajay. The two-part play is written by Irawati Karnik and Directed by Adwait Dadarkar and Ranjit Patil.
The play starts with a broken fourth wall where the audience play the family members of Radha (Priya Bapat) and Samar (Umesh Kamat) at their magnificent engagement ceremony. The duo’s romantic cover on the song Tumse Milke Aisa Laga introduces their individual stances in the relationship they have.
Three years have gone by and Radha-Samar are now divorced. Both feel they have moved on but ironically enough they meet again at a resort in Alibaug. Suddenly confronted at the reception with their current partners, Abeer (Aashutosh Gokhale) and Sati (Pallavi Ajay), all their long overdue sentiments come up.
Filled with constant jokes and drama the play moves forward. When two people who hate each other to guts are forced to confront their past, they find themselves in a love-hate comedy that will change their lives forever. The past and the present collide in this hilarious and heartwarming love story that will leave you laughing and crying until the very end.
The play largely focuses on how unresolved closure or even forced closures may lead to a complicated mindset while stepping into a new relationship. Most of the comic scenes are when Pallavi Ajay with her electric energy collides with a man child in the form of Aashutosh Gokhale. Priya Bapat is simply mesmerising and Umesh Kamat also manages to play his part to perfection. The romantic song covers in between are heart touching.
The first half starts with a high dose of gags and energy but slowly fades away into a couple of drowsy dramatic scenes. The second half takes the play to a completely different tangent. The weak dramatic scenes which also take up most of the second half of the play gradually turn into a snooze fest.
The writing fails to encapsulate the complicated truth of the relationships in current times. Also, the constant jumbling of words which is a big gag woven into the story gets irritating after a point. Priya and Umesh have an out of the world chemistry. And it is a big reason for a great start to the play. But as soon as they start to fight, the shortcomings of the writing and direction are exposed.
The background music by Shreenath Mhatre feels very bland and random. It doesn’t really add any depth to the dramatic scenes. The lights by Amogh Phade too are not really thoughtful and fail to capture the essence. The set design by Sandesh Bendre is apt and beautiful to the eyes.
All in all, Marathi Naatak Jar Tar Chi Goshta doesn’t really manage to deliver a complete package and instead cooks up a half-hearted comedy with the lead character’s stage presence driving most of the play.
Check the play schedule for tickets here: Jar Tar Chi Goshta on BookmyShow
