There was a time when everybody connected with theatre, would make it a point to watch as many plays as possible, during the annual Maharashtra State Amateur Drama Competition. This competition has always been held in high esteem, for sheer raw talent displayed. It may be mentioned that no professional dramatist is allowed to participate in this competition, as per rules. Even it used to be attended by established producers, directors for spotting new talent and ideas; for the very reason that many actors, directors, writers, technicians have risen from this platform to make a name and gain fame at professional level.
But, in recent times one can witness very thin attendance at this competition, mainly due to the changing scenario in entertainment world. Finance is one such factor, as theatre doesn’t allow you to earn heavily, so as to support for living. The advent of television, is another factor which locks the viewers in their drawing rooms, not allowing them to think of an outing to a theatre, to watch a play. Maharashtra Government is also expected to infuse more confidence in theatre people, for the survival of small theatre groups. No doubt, it’s credible on their part to have continued this movement to encourage new talent.
For the year 2014-15, about 385 plays are to be staged at 19 centres all over Maharashtra. There are many stalwart institutions, which dominate the competition year after year, some of them being, BEST, BMC (Municipal Corporation), BPT (Bombay Port Trust), Mazgaon Dock, Amar Hind Mandal and State Bank of India.
SBI (State Bank) this year staged a play, ‘Seedless’ specifically written for this competition by Ravi Bhagwate and directed by Vinay Wategaonkar. It’s a story of a successful businessman taking pride in being a kingmaker or a queen maker, as he uplifts couple of women to business glory, by his sheer financial acumen. He marries the second woman, as the first one leaves him because she gets pregnant. He is against having children, thinking that they are hindrance, due to their troubled and stressful childhood. The first wife adopts a girl with special abilities, comes and stays in the same house. The girl transforms his thinking, but in the end he is left alone repenting.
It was a well presented play by actors, Pranay Bhuvad, Amit Guhe, Tejal Samant, Sampada Tulaskar, child actor Vallary Gaikwad (she was exemplary), without any professional background. Even technically this show was no less professional, and special mention for beautiful light designing by Hemant Donkar. Writer Ravi Bhagwate’s scripting was very relevant. Director Vinay Wategaonkar’s presentation was no less than a commercial play epitomising drama quotient equally well.

One really hopes that the Government does not let die this competition and at the same time an appeal to all the theatre loving people, to ensure that there is no Curtain Call on this competition.