Colourful comedy coming

RENOWNED Indian film and theatre personality Manoj Joshi would make his debut in Dubai with a colourful comedy play Rangeela Re. A family comedy skit, which features Joshi in six different roles, will be staged in Dubai on Thursday.

Joshi is making waves in Indian cinema. He has shared screen space with veteran actors in films like Sarfarosh, Page3, Devdas, Chandni Bar, Bhagam Bhag, Phir Hera Pheri, and Guru. Yet his commitment to theatre has remained intact which is reflected in this play.

"Rangeela Re is a hilarious entertainer in Hindi, with six diverse characters played by Manoj Joshi. He has made it a real entertainer for the entire spectrum of audience," said Sunil Grover of Signature Events, organiser of the show.

"The play rides on the waves of laughter till it ends on an emotional note and sums up the script beautifully with a message," he added.

The story revolves around a function organised by a one-man committee comprising of publicity-hungry Surendra "Gairib" to felicitate legendary actor Jayshankar Joshi. While the audience wait for the actor, five other characters interrupt the programme.

The first one to interrupt the programme is Vikram Joshi, who loves to be called Channel-V and claims to be the greatest rap artiste of India. He is the grandson of veteran actor Jayshankar Joshi but has no respect for him or for that matter any yesteryear actors.

The next character to interrupt the show is Kokilaben Lomummba, she is happily married to a man from a fictitious African island, where their favourite time pass is giraffe riding.

Prince Wong Tun Pinpin, the chief guest of the function, is the prince from an unknown revolution-torn state in the Far East. He is oblivious to the political scene back home and indulges in small talk about the two loves of his life, Hindi language and an Indian girl he is married to.

Paandoba Waghmare, president of the Dabaawala Association, had been invited by Prince Charles to attend the wedding and narrates the experience in his abrasive tongue.

Chanakya, a scene is performed to commemorate Jayshankar Joshi's classic play Chanakya, supposedly staged by the veteran actor in the year 1940.

And finally enters Jayshankar Joshi. The 87-year-old actor and classical singer arrives at his felicitation function after facing great ordeal on the way as in his life. This character depicts the intrinsic pathos of old age which is handed to audience wrapped in laughter in between tears.

The show will start at 9pm. Tickets are priced at Dhs250, Dhs150, Dhs80 and Dhs50.