Pune: A 50-minute monologue explores themes of a divorced woman, a gay son and emotions of yearning and belonging in Ek Madhav Baug, originally written in Marathi in the 1980s by playwright the late Chetan Datar. It follows a divorced woman who resides at Ek Madhav Baug in Mumbai and has three sons.The monologue’s focus is on the youngest and most beloved son, who is gay. It addresses the concerns around the mental well-being of queer individuals and their families. The play is a poignant exploration of the mother’s dilemmas and anxieties, as she accidentally stumbles upon her son’s personal diary and discovers his experiences with homosexuality.“The woman begins to question her own life choices and sexuality as she comes to terms with her son’s reality,” said Suhita Thatte, who plays the protagonist.The play is directed by Deepa D, founder of the queer theatre festival, SatRang Mahotsav, organised at the Shreeram Lagoo Rangavkash. It will be staged at 6pm on June 20 and be followed by a panel discussion on Datar and his works.Datar wrote the play at a time when homosexuality was a less talked-about subject. It sheds light on the layered realities and societal stigmas that women and gay men faced. “The prejudices persist even though people are more liberal today and open to having friends from the queer community,” said Thatte.She further said, “The mother contemplates loneliness and acceptance through her son’s lived experiences. She worries he may face the same lack of support as she did.”Thatte said Datar was one of the few playwrights who understood women’s feelings. “I shared a deep emotional connect with Datar and worked on several projects with him. I felt like he understood the nuances of a woman’s behaviour. It immediately drew me to the play reading,” she added.The English and Hindi versions of the play are enacted by actor Mona Ambegaonkar, produced by the Humsafar Trust, India’s first community-based organisation for LGBTQIA+ people in Mumbai. The play has completed over 100 shows in Hindi, English and Marathi across India.Thatte recalled Datar’s artistic vision and theatre techniques and said the playwright liked experimenting with different forms. “One of his plays, Jungle Mein Mangal, based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, involved women dressing as men and men dressing as women. This led many people to explore their sexuality,” she said.The actor said, “I have no inhibitions in playing a character who is on the path to discover her sexuality, even though some people may find it difficult to confront their feelings on such a complex thought.”Thatte also said that Datar would have been happy about the long-overdue recognition the LGBTQIA+ community was receiving. “I would like to tell the audience to be open and embrace people, no matter what their sexuality.”
