Dr. Anandibai Joshi is a 2017 Gujarati-language one-man play about Anandibai Joshi (1865–1887), first Indian woman physician, written by Gita Manek and directed by Manoj Shah. Mansi Prabhakar Joshi played the role of Anandibai in the production. The play premiered on 2 December 2017 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai for its Center Stage Drama Festival 2017. Unlike Shah's other one-man plays, this play features a woman character for the first time. It was later staged in Hindi and Marathi language.
| Dr. Anandibai Joshi | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Written by | Geeta Manek |
| Characters | Anandibai Joshi (played by Mansi Prabhakar Joshi) |
| Date premiered | 2 December 2017 |
| Place premiered | National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai |
| Original language | Gujarati |
| Subject | Anandibai Joshi |
| Genre | solo performance |
Background
editGeeta Manek drew his original inspiration for her play while researching for her women-centric column Koi Gori Koi Sanwari for a Gujarati newspaper and magazine. The play premiered on 2 December 2017 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai for its Center Stage Drama Festival 2017. The play was later stages in Hindi and Marathi languages. Anandibai's character was enacted by Mansi Prabhakar Joshi. This is Shah's first play in which a woman character appears in a solo performance.[1][2][3] The Marathi version of the play was premiered on 4 May 2018 at A. N. Bhalerao Natyagruh Mangalwadi during Damu Kenkre Theatre Festival.[4]
The play is a semi-biographical. While narrating Anandibai's life, the play also depicts the status of women in contemporary Indian society.[5][6] The play poses several question regarding women's freedom and tries to answer it.[3][5][7]
Reception
editThe play became part of the Theatre Olympics.[1][3]
Utpal Bhayani praised direction, lighting, costumes, script and production. He found the play inspiring and apt representation of Anandibai's life. He called "Like, Comment, Share" in the title as a "gimmick" as well as found Anandibai's communication with various victims in their afterlife "unnecessary" and "artificial".[8]
Deepa Gahlot cited the play among "10 Most Socially Relevant Theatre Productions"[9] She called the story "powerful" and praised the performance of Joshi.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b Phukan, Vikram (26 May 2018). "The trailblazing Dr Anandibai". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ Pawar, Yogesh (27 November 2017). "A play to celebrate life and times of one of the first female doctors of India, Dr Anandibai Joshi". DNA India. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "A play on Anandibai Joshi makes a Marathi debut". The Times of India. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ Salvi, Abhay (2 May 2018). "Marathi Play On India's 1st Female Physician – Dr Anandibai Joshi!". MarathiStars. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ a b Paniker, Shruti (7 September 2019). "Play that celebrates the life and times of India's first female physician". Ahmedabad Mirror. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ "Past forward". Pune Mirror. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Dr. Anandibai - Like, Comment, Share Gujarati Play/Drama". www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com. 15 November 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Bhayani, Utpal (2019). Rangbhoomi 2018: Reviews of Dramas Performed on Stage in Different Languages and Other Articles on Theatre During 2018 (in Gujarati). Mumbai: Image Publication Pvt. Ltd. pp. 29–31. ISBN 978-81-7997-774-3.
- ^ Gahlot, Gahlot. "10 Most Socially Relevant Theatre Productions". The Daily Eye. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ Gahlot, Deepa (19 July 2018). "A Tale of True Grit". The Daily Eye. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.