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`It is one-year itch now'
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Watching "Naughty @ Forty" was a sheer treat and Paresh Rawal a delight
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PARESH RAWAL is no stranger to Hyderabad both for his mind-boggling performances in movies like Ramgopal Varma's Kshana Kshnam as the don with tons of music sense and in plays like Shaadi Barbadi and the thriller Maharathi.
In the city for the play, Naughty @ Forty Paresh said, he is blessed "with a good memory and so learning Telugu was no problem." And he breaks into the song from Money Money. "That song was easy as there were a lot of English words. Also one must embrace language, not fight it as then it becomes easy to pick up the language." Paresh's first love is theatre as is obvious when he says in "theatre the actor is king while in cinema the director rules.
"Describing Naughty@Forty as a "marital comedy," Paresh comments that the play is "something we all can relate to. When one is having an argument with one's spouse, then it seems like a matter of life and death. However, when we see the same thing on stage, it seems really funny!"
Insisting that the "play is meant to be enjoyed," Paresh comments, "there is no heavy duty message. We have just tried to tell a story through humour and if one gets a moral out of it then that much the better."
Ask him about the seven-year itch and pat comes the reply, "seven years is too long now; it is the one year itch!"
Power play
All roads led to Shilpa Kala Vedika on Sunday night as the movers and shakers in town hared to the gracious theatre to have a time of their lives. The sold out house translated to incredible traffic jams which meant the play started about 40 minutes late - a true case of success extracting its price!
The fact that the play was in its 75th performance showed as everything moved like a well-oiled machine. Loosely based on a Marathi play, Naughty@Forty is the story of Natvarlal and his wife Pramila. Married for seven years, Natvarlal is attacked by a bad case of the seven-year-itch.
When the model Monica moves in next door with her effeminate husband Mandolin Mohan, the stage is set for much adultery and infidelity. Natvarlal begs the gods to help him switch bodies with Mohan. The old adage of being careful what you wish for comes true as Natvar is granted his wish but when Mohan who harbours a secret crush on Pramila is utterly pleased with the state of affairs, Natvar is rather miffed.
Written and directed by Umesh Shukla who also plays Mohan, the play is a laugh riot. The major chunk of the credit for this should go to Paresh for his excellent timing. Starting from his request before the play began to switch off mobiles ("no one has idiot written on their faces, do not reveal your identity by letting your phone ring!") the play belongs to Paresh.
As the skirt chasing Natvar and the pansy Mohan he excels with his unmistakeable deadpan and his extempore interactions with audience were a revelation. Ably supported by Vaishali Thakkar who plays the shrewish Pramila, Umesh, Hetal Patel who plays the va voom Monica and Sridhar Vatsan who plays the Natvar's son Gottu, Naughty@Forty was a treat.
If some of the jokes did not seem politically correct, it worked simply because of the talented Mr. Rawal. Organised by the Mitr Foundation to help the girl child, it was a perfect evening's entertainment and if by buying a ticket to two-hours of unadulterated fun helped the under-privileged, then that was a double bonus!
MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER
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