The iconic and once-controversial play ‘Sakharam Binder’, written by renowned playwright Vijay Tendulkar50 years ago, is making a comeback on stage. In this revival, actress Neha Joshi plays the powerful role of Lakshmi. While talking about her character and the play, Neha revealed several insights.
Neha Joshi shared, “Though Sakharam Binder is a 50-year-old play, its subject remains just as relevant today. I was deeply moved by the character of Lakshmi. On the surface, she may appear tolerant and weak, but within, she’s incredibly strong. Lakshmi, who holds a deep faith in the institution of marriage and in God, ends up in a relationship with Sakharam — a man who is entirely against the idea of marriage. How this relationship unfolds is what the play portrays. This revival also offers an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come in terms of accepting bold works of art after all these years.”
Produced by Sumukh Chitra, the play is backed by producer Manohar Jagtap and executive producer Nikhil Jadhav. It is directed by Abhijeet Zunjarrav. The music is composed by Ashutosh Waghmare, sets by Sumeet Patil, lighting by Shyam Chavan, makeup by Sharad Sawant, and costumes by Trupti Zunjarrav. Sanket Gurav has worked as an assistant director. Neha added that, “It wouldn’t be right to alter the original script of a master playwright like Vijay Tendulkar, so no changes have been made to the text.”
It was poet Prakash Holkar from Nashik who suggested Neha’s name to veteran actor Sayaji Shinde, who was already considering her for the role along with director Abhijeet Zunjarrav. Neha admits, “Initially, it’s natural to feel a bit nervous about working alongside a respected and experienced actor like Sayaji Shinde. But when he steps into a role, he appears purely as a character before you — so immersed in his performance that his stature and fame seem to disappear.”
She also mentioned that working with him gave her a close look at his dedication and sincerity toward the craft, and she learned a lot from him.
Neha has urged audiences to come and watch the play, “Times have changed, and so have the performers. Whether you like the play or not, please share your feedback with us. That will help us understand how successfully we’ve conveyed Vijay Tendulkar’s thoughts to today’s audience.”
