Written by Pradeep Dalvi of Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoy fame and directed by Milind Pednekar, who shot to fame with the controversial Golpeetha, the play on Thackeray is indeed an `event' in itself. With the state assembly elections around the corner, the Shiv Sena proposes to distribute cassettes of the play as part of poll propaganda, party insiders say.

To start with, plans for the play were announced by Dalvi in the midst of the raging controversy over Godse. Interestingly, the playwright, director, producer Dilip Jadhav and even the four main characters in the play all claim the venture is ``apolitical''. As Jadhav puts it, ``We harbour no wish to create a political controversy. The playmerely draws a career graph of the leader, right from his origins as a cartoonist in the Free Press Journal to his rise as supremo of a statewide outfit. Playwright Dalvi is a close observer-admirer and family friend of the leader. Both of us were toying with the idea of a drama on Thackeray.'' Jadhav claimed Pasayadan is one of the very few attempts at presenting living icons on the Marathi stage.

The two-hour play, set in the Thackeray household, rests on dialogue between Thackeray and four other characters -- his wife Meenati, father Prabodhankar, disciple-Sainik Manohar Joshi and his cartoon creation `the common man.' It starts with the leader's grandiloquent assertion of the sons-of-the soil theory. ``I have nothing against non-Maharashtrians. But I cannot tolerate the joblessness of my Marathi Sainiks. These sons of the soil cannot be sidelined so mercilessly in their own land. I have formed this organisation to finish off the domination of yandu-goondus (South Indians).''

The play furtherunderlines his involvement in the formation of the Maharashtra state and subsequent jail term. His histrionic views on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute are aired. Then come references to his statewide tours to mobilise public support for the Sena followed by empowerment of the organisation, first in the municipal corporation elections in Mumbai and then in the state legislature. The play ends with Meenatai's death, Thackeray's announcement about taking rajakiya sanyas and his having second thoughts and opting to remain at the helm of affairs.

The playwright has accorded a flawless demi-god status to Thackeray, carefully banishing inconvenient episodes. There is not even a passing mention of the infighting in the Shiv Sena, awkward encounters with characters like Chaggan Bhujbal and tussles with the media. There is overt glorification of Thackeray's forthright, candid rhetoric, with of course, no reference to the times when he was compelled to eat his own words. Dalvi justifies the goody-goodypresentation of the leader. ``I have not written a political biography of the person. It is quite a `family' play, tracing his growth from a cartoonist to a mass leader.''

Interestingly, it is not just the playwright who has glossed over the leader's shortcomings. The entire cast is also on the same playwright who has glossed over the leader's shortcomings. The entire cast is also on the same wavelength. Sanjay Belose, the actor playing Thackeray says, ``I am a fan of this leader. The respect which I have for him has compelled me to present him in the right perspective. I didn't watch video cassettes of his speeches. My aim was not just to ape his mannerisms but to present his philosophy.''

Director Pednekar says the play consciously avoids Thackeray's political rivals. ``Apart from the most obvious references to the `Congress high command,' we have not maligned a single opposition leader. I think the play cannot be labelled `political' in any way.''

Senior Shiv Sena leaders and members of the Thackerayfamily (Uddhav and Rashmi Thackeray) had seen the play before rehearsals started. Insiders have claimed they suggested many cuts. However, secretary of the Sena, Subhash Desai, says, ``We suggested some minor factual changes. And we also asked the character playing Thackeray to be less dramatic (stagy) and avoid certain mannerisms while he's moving around in the household. Thackeray's family life is like that of any other person. I think the point was well taken.''