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Avagha Rang Ekachi Zala” lights up the Bay Area
The Marathi-speaking community of Northern California made history when the Maharashtra Mandal Bay Area (MMBA) staged the first-ever Marathi musical, Avagha Rang Ekachi Zala, on November 2 at the Smithwick Theater in Los Altos Hills. This theatrical production marked the first locally produced sangeet natak (musical play) in the Bay Area, blending classical Indian Natya Sangeet with Western, fusion, and Bollywood influences to create an East-meets-West experience.
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Written by Dr. Meena Nerurkar and directed by Sheetal Dolas, the production explored the timeless clash between spiritual tradition and modern expression through the lens of Maharashtra’s kirtan (devotional music) heritage. The emotionally charged narrative, interwoven with live classical and contemporary music, took audiences on a journey of faith, art, and generational evolution.
Bridging Generations Through Music
At its heart, Avagha Rang Ekachi Zala is a dialogue between devotion and innovation — between an elder, steadfast in orthodox faith, and his son, driven by modern thought. The conflict unfolds not through argument, but through music and emotion. “It’s the story of music as a bridge — not a barrier — between eras,” Dolas explained.
The production’s music direction by Pandit Raghunandan Panshikar, one of India’s leading Hindustani vocalists, gave the play a rich classical foundation. Every song was performed live on stage by the actors to create a multisensory experience where abhangas, bhavgeet, Bollywood melodies, and Western harmonies coexisted.
A Musical Experience, Rooted in Marathi Soul
The sound stage, which included a 1,500-square-foot set and over 250 synchronized light and sound cues, took more than 2,000 volunteer hours to produce.
The cast included local talent, including Yogita Bhatkhande, Milind Bhandarkar, Amol Paranjape, Manoj Tamhankar, Gauri Apsingekar-Joshi, and Shalaka Dolas, supported by live musicians Ajinkya Ranade, Rahul Zingde, Mihika Maharana, and Ayush Tarhalkar.
A creative team led by Sanjay Pachpande, Pranita Saklikar, Manasi Havaldar, Amit Karmarkar, Sameer Deolikar, and Deepak Tare brought medieval Maharashtra to life with intricate sets and period costumes designed by Meera Tamhankar and Sharvari Dolas.
“This is a defining moment for the Bay Area’s Marathi stage,” said MMBA president Bhaskar Ranade. “For the first time, a fully homegrown team filled a major auditorium — proving that our local talent can create art of international quality.”
A New Era for Marathi Theater Abroad
Dolas envisions Avagha Rang Ekachi Zala touring other U.S. cities — and eventually, India.
“This isn’t just a play,” he said. “It’s history in the making — a reminder that passion, teamwork, and cultural pride can turn dreams into standing ovations.”
The performance received a standing ovation from a sold-out audience of more than 800.
“Everything — from acting and singing to costumes and stagecraft — was world-class,” said one theatergoer. “It felt like Broadway in Marathi.”