To Mee Navhech
Encyclopedia
To Mee Navhech is a classic Marathi
Play
written by Acharya Atre
. Though the protagonist
role has been played by many actors since its inception in 1962, the role played by Prabhakar Panshikar
is the most memorable. To Mee Navech is probably the first play in the world where the same actor has to do five completely different roles, not to merely add to novelty value or as a stunt, but because the story demands it. To Mee Navhech was also among the first Marathi plays to make use of the Revolving Stage
(फिरता रंगमंच) between two scenes.
. The drama starts with a courtroom scene in which Lakhoba Lokhande is sitting in the defendant box. He has been accused by the prosecution of swindling different persons through disguise and fraud. The prosecution lawyer presents many witnesses, most of whom are the victims of Lakhoba's embezzlement (and in some cases torture). The witnesses narrate their experiences with the defendant through flashbacks. Lakhoba runs his own case after firing his lawyer. He cross questions the witnesses and during the process pleads his innocence by saying "To Mee Navhech".
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
Play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
written by Acharya Atre
Prahlad Keshav Atre
Prahlād Keshav Atre , popularly known as Āchārya Atre , was a multi-faceted Indian figure. He was a prominent Marathi writer, a poet, an educationist, a newspaper founder–editor of Maratha , a political leader, a movie producer–director–script writer...
. Though the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
role has been played by many actors since its inception in 1962, the role played by Prabhakar Panshikar
Prabhakar Panshikar
Prabhakar Panshikar was an Indian stage actor. His role as Lakhoba Lokhande in the drama To Mi Navhech is considered to be one of the most memorable roles presented so far on the Marathi stage...
is the most memorable. To Mee Navech is probably the first play in the world where the same actor has to do five completely different roles, not to merely add to novelty value or as a stunt, but because the story demands it. To Mee Navhech was also among the first Marathi plays to make use of the Revolving Stage
Revolving stage
A revolving stage is a mechanically controlled platform within a theatre that can be rotated in order to speed up the changing of a scene within a show...
(फिरता रंगमंच) between two scenes.
Background
A conman Lakhoba Lokhande is being prosecuted in the court of law for allegedly duping people, marrying women for money and essentially living multiple lives. He tries to defend his own self by asking uncomfortable questions to each witness during the cross-questioning. The entire play is set in a courtroom scene with a revolving set used for cut scenes and flashbacks.Storyline
The storyline focuses on a con Lakhoba Lokhande, who claims he is a tobacco merchant from NipaniNipani
Nipani is a town and a city municipal council in Belgaum district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Nippani is the largest urban center in Chikkodi Taluka of Belgaum District...
. The drama starts with a courtroom scene in which Lakhoba Lokhande is sitting in the defendant box. He has been accused by the prosecution of swindling different persons through disguise and fraud. The prosecution lawyer presents many witnesses, most of whom are the victims of Lakhoba's embezzlement (and in some cases torture). The witnesses narrate their experiences with the defendant through flashbacks. Lakhoba runs his own case after firing his lawyer. He cross questions the witnesses and during the process pleads his innocence by saying "To Mee Navhech".
Characters played by Prabhakar Panshikar in the play
| Character | Picture |
|---|---|
| Lakhoba Lokhande: A tobacco merchant from Nipani |  |
| Divakar Datar: A secret political officer of the Kingdom of Mysore |  |
| Dajishastri Datar: Elder brother of Divakar Datar |  |
| Captain Ashok Paranjpe: A Navy officer and younger brother of Divakar Datar |  |
| Radheshyam Maharaj: A saint |  |
Remakes
- Naan AvanillaiNaan Avanillai (1974 film)Naan Avanillai is a 1974 Tamil language film starring Gemini Ganesan in the lead role of the protagonist. It was directed by K.Balachander. It is a remake of 1962 Marathi language film To Mee Navhech , written by Pralhad K. Atre and being acted by Prabhakar Panashikar. The film has been also made...
(1974) [Tamil] with Gemini GanesanGemini GanesanRamaswami Ganesan , popularly known as Gemini Ganesan , was an Indian actor. He was nicknamed "Kadhal Mannan" of Tamil cinema for the romantic roles he played in movies.... - Woh Main Nahin (1974) [Hindi] with Navin NischolNavin NischolNavin Nischol was an Indian actor. He made his debut with the Hindi film Sawan Bhadon in 1970.-Early life:...
- Naan Avanillai (2007) [Tamil] with JeevanJeevanJeevan is a Tamil film actor.-Biography:He graduated from the St. Bede's School in Chennai. One of his classmates was actor Surya Sivakumar.-Career:...
- BudhivantaBudhivantaBudhivanta is a 2008 Kannada language blockbuster film starring Superstar Upendra in the lead role. It was directed by Ramnath Rigvedhi. It is a remake of the Tamil film Naan Avanillai. It was released on 26 September 2008...
(2008) [Kannada] with UpendraUpendraUpendra is a cine actor, director, script writer and singer. Born in a middle class family at Koteshwara near Kundapura, he belongs to Kannada speaking Kota Brahmin community. Upendra started his career off with famous director Kashinath as a writer and an assistant director...