Varhad Nighalay Londonla, a classic one-man Marathi play comes to Hyderabad

One actor, a shawl, three mics and a stage performance bringing 52 characters to life — that is Varhad Nighalay Londonla, a classic one-man Marathi play coming to Hyderabad. The production promises a hilarious and heartwarming journey through the traditions, emotions and humour of a Maharashtrian wedding.

Timeless comedy

Performed by theatre and film actor Sandeep Pathak, Varhad Nighalay Londonla — or ‘a wedding procession to London’ in Marathi — is a timeless comedy first performed by Laxmanrao Deshpande in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, formerly Aurangabad, in 1976. His one-man show went on to clock 2,800 performances until 2007 and even earned him a Guinness World Record.

A blend of drama and comedy
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Special Arrangement

“Even if the Hyderabad audience blinks for a second, the character will change on stage,” laughs Sandeep, referring to the many characters he plays.

With a touch of humour

Set against the backdrop of a village in rural Maharashtra, Varhad Nighalay Londonla follows Kashinath, a village boy who falls in love with a British girl in London. Although his traditionally minded family initially opposes the match, they eventually agree. Celebrations and confusion begin when relatives and villagers come together to take the baraat to London, where the wedding is set to take place. A blend of drama and humour unfolds as first-time flyers from rural areas step onto an aeroplane. “Their culture, innocence, doubts and humour create heartwarming moments,” adds Sandeep, who is set to present his 610th show in Hyderabad.

When Lakshman Rao performed the play in the late 1970s, air travel was still a rarity. “Only a few people in the audience could relate to their first flying experience, but for others, the narration felt so real that they could imagine the funny moments, fear or confusion that come with wearing a seat belt or during take-off and landing,” says Sandeep. As the play celebrates its golden jubilee with this show in Hyderabad, it is remarkable that the story and its iconic characters have remained unchanged through the decades.

Strikes a chord

One-man show
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Despite air travel becoming commonplace, the play continues to resonate and remains popular. “When Maharashtrians living in cities watch the play now, they connect with their roots and are instantly reminded of that relative in the village who might have had such an experience. The play strikes a chord because of its warmth, nostalgia and heartwarming moments,” says Sandeep.

As the sole actor carrying the narrative, Sandeep moves between a host of characters — from Kashinath, the groom, children and grandparents to the bride’s father, an Englishman with an accent — and even creates the sounds of flights and trains. He admits that the performance is both hectic and challenging. “I give my voice complete rest throughout the day until the evening performance. It is not easy to instantly shift between different voices and still sound authentic.”

Kamineni Hospitals in association with Tatvaa Arts and Saksham Foundation presents the play Varhad Nighalay Londonla on September 6 at 6 pm; Tickets: Bookmyshow