Sakharam Binder, a play written by Vijay Tendulkar and directed by Kamalakar Sarang, stuck out when it premiered in the early 70s — a period marked by romances and tearjerkers churned out by the film industry. On March 10, 1972, its first show was staged. Two years later, the hard-hitting play which takes a dig at social norms was banned.

More than three decades later, a Mumbai theatre group Arpana revisits censorship and how it afflicted Sakharam Binder. Within the context of theatre and popular arts, primarily in Maharashtra in the 1970s, S*x, M*rality, and Cens*rship, directed by Sunil Shanbag, explores this. “I thought of this last year after I read Sarang’s book Binderche Divas,” says Shanbag, who roped in Shanta Gokhale and Irawati Karnik to develop the project.

Gokhale created the first draft of the play funded by Indian Foundation for the Arts. “In the mid-60s, Bob Dylan created ripples worldwide with The Times They Are A-Changin’. A few years later, Paris witnessed a students’ uprising in May 1968. And in the early 70s, Sakharam Binder kicked up a storm,” she reflects.

Both Gokhale and Shanbag agree it is important to revisit the times that witnessed such political and social tumult. “Art is borne out of time,” says the director. Arpana’s latest play uses the traditional mediums, like tamasha and lavani as well as animation, news footage and film clippings seamlessly to create the 70s feel. “It isn’t just a play. It takes you all over the place,” says actor Nagesh Bhonsle.

... contd.