‘Tathagat’ gives gripping account of Buddha’s life – Times of India

Nagpur: With a social message of spreading peace and harmony in the world, Film Television and Theatre Society’s cast of almost 170 people staged a grand play ‘Tathagat’ based on the life of Gautam Buddha in the ongoing Khasdar Sanskrutik Mahotsav at Ishwar Deshmukh College of Physical Education on Friday.
This was the third event of the 14-day cultural festival which will conclude on December 18.

The play, written by Kiran Bagde and directed jointly by Suresh Meshram and Manoj Sahare, is an adaptation of the book ‘Buddha and his Dhamma’, penned by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

After a long wait, the royalty and people of Lumbini alike were ecstatic at the news of pregnancy of queen Maya who was soon to give birth to a baby boy. Rishis, saints and laureates are summoned at the news.

One of them deems the baby, Siddharth Gautam, to have been born with a ‘future of a learned, enlightened and a legendary man’. The saint also foresees that the prince will leave his home, family and kingdom in search of a greater purpose.

Several years later, the prince is married and becomes a father himself. But his heart and mind is pained with the misery around. He then decides to go into exile, leaving all the things behind. The prediction of the saint thus proves right. The story depicts his journey into exile that ends at Kushinagar, and how he attains enlightenment.
Yashraj Batra and Rakesh Khade played the roles of young and older Gautam Buddha respectively. Sudhir Patil was in the role of his father King Shuddhodan while Vijaya Khandale portrayed his mother Mahamaya.
The other characters were Lajari Kale (Yashodhara), Manisha Ghosh (Maharani Prajapati) and Milind Ramteke (Asat Muni). The mega light and sound play had many musical tracks sung by Kavitha Krishanmurthy and Udit Narayan, and was narrated in the late actor Om Puri’s pre-recorded voice.
Talking about the message given through the megaplay, writer Kiran Bagde said, “Ambedkar’s philosophy is based on non-violence and principles of Buddhism that talk of peace. In his book, he says that world needs peace and peacemakers which are foundation stones of Buddhism.” Thank you
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