Zee Theatre has always offered us some really nuanced and entertaining teleplays. This April, it brings to you a vibrant melange of engrossing, well-written, multi-genre stories drenched in many shades of human experience. Be it a comedy about a controlling patriarch, an insightful exploration of old age, the untold story of a domestic worker or a tale about the quest for self-expression, you can enjoy teleplays that have all these elements all through the month.
Let's have a look at the teleplays that Zee Theatre has for you in the month of April
'Guriya'
Directed by Kanwal Khoosat and Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, read by well-known actor Mahira Khan and penned by iconic Urdu writer Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, 'Guriya', is part of 'Yaar Julahay', a series of 12 dramatic readings. This intriguing tale is about an unbreakable bond between Mehra and Bano and the role that a mysterious doll has in their lives has elements of supernatural horror and mystery. Why does Bano's mother think that Mehra's beauty is something to be feared? Why does Mehra fear a doll that looks just like her? Why is her life in a strange way connected with both Bano and the doll? Will Mehra and Bano survive the tragedy that is about to visit them? To know the answers to these questions, watch 'Guriya' on Tata Play Theatre on 29th April.
'Gunehgaar'
Woven around three lives, this psychological thriller, an Akarsh Khurana directorial brings together a mysterious man Mr. Bansal, investigative journalist Mrinalini and a cop Om on a rainy evening and sets off a chain of events that shocks and stuns the audience. Is this evening a culmination of a crime that was committed a long time ago? Was justice done? As the play progresses, our ideas about all three protagonists undergo a shift and we are forced to reconsider the notions of innocence and guilt. As the plot twists and turns, we learn that nothing is as it seems. The teleplay stars Gajraj Rao, Shweta Basu Prasad and Sumeet Vyas. It can be watched again on Airtel Theatre, Dish TV Rangmanch Active & D2h Rangmanch Active on 30th April.
'Where Did I Leave My Purdah?'
Written and directed by Sahitya Akademi winner Mahesh Dattani, the dramatic teleplay reveals layers of trauma that lie beneath the stoicism of a veteran theatre actor Nazia Sahiba. Horrific memories of Partition and what she and her sister Zarine had to endure during that time continue to haunt her. However, it is her passion for theatre that sustains her through everything but then the unexpected arrival of Nikhat, her niece Ruby’s daughter, changes everything. Watch this powerful drama to know how Nazia and Ruby deal with a painful past to make peace with their present. The teleplay stars Sohaila Kapur, Divya Dutta, Swara Bhasker, Sunil Palwal and Deepal Doshi and can be seen on Tata Play Theatre on 9th April.
'Court Martial'
This acclaimed legal drama by playwright Swadesh Deepak was a precursor to similar stories depicted in films 'A Few Good Men' and 'Shaurya' and explores the toxic power structures that can impact how justice is dispensed in courtrooms. The story is about a junior-ranked army man, Ramchander, who inexplicably shoots two senior officers and is now being Court Martialed. His idealistic defence lawyer, Vikas Roy however decided to dig deeper to find what prompted Ramchander to commit this crime and what he finds is both shocking and deeply disturbing. Directed by Sourabh Shrivastava, the teleplay stars Rajeev Khandelwal, Govind Pandey, Bhagwaan Tiwari, Saksham Dayma and Swapnil Kotriwar. It will be aired on Tata Play Theatre on 23rd April.
'Sir Sir Sarla'
Should the heart be allowed to have what it wants or should it follow societal norms? The family drama 'Sir Sir Sarla' explores this question via the story of professor Palekar and his students Sarla and Phanidhar. Sarla is smitten by her professor and Phanidhar has feelings for her. The professor guides Sarla to marry a man she doesn't love and four lives get enmeshed in a web of pain, regret and dissatisfaction. As Sarla and Phanidhar confront their mentor about why he changed the course of their lives, the professor is forced to confront his own feelings. Filmed by Suman Mukhopadhyay, the teleplay stars Aahana Kumra, Makarand Deshpande, Sanjay Dadhich and Anjum Sharma. It will air on Airtel Theatre, Dish TV Rangmanch Active & D2h Rangmanch Active on 23rd April.
'Hasmukh Sahab Ki Wasihat'
Written and directed by Mahesh Dattani, 'Hasmukh Saab Ki Wasihat' is a satirical and witty take on patriarchy within the family unit. At the heart of this play is Hasmukh Mehta who, unlike his name, was a dour and controlling person. In life, he made sure that everyone in his family obeyed his commands and even after his sudden death, he controls them through a will. But then life has a way of disrupting the best laid plans of even the most autocratic men. The play stars Mohan Agashe, Seema Pahwa, Achint Kaur, Mona Wasu and Gagan Sethi and will air on 15th April on Airtel Theatre, Dish TV Rangmanch Active & D2h Rangmanch Active.
'Sandhya Chhaya'
This social drama play written by Marathi playwright Jaywant Dalvi continues to resonate with audiences across generations for its authentic portrayal of old age and the loneliness that comes with it. Though set in the 70s, it still rings true in its depiction of the isolation that old parents feel when their children settle abroad and do not make the effort to stay connected. The protagonists of this story hence represent all old couples who are left with only each other for company and live in the futile hope that their children and grandchildren will one day come to pay them a visit. This poignant social drama is directed by Ishan Trivedi and stars Uttara Baokar, Deepak Qazir and Vinnay Vishwa. It will be aired on Tata Play Theatre on 15th April.
'Sakubai'
This classic comedy-drama written by Nadira Zaheer Babbar is also famous for a powerful solo performance by film, theatre and television veteran Sarita Joshi. Joshi plays Sakubai, a domestic worker who has suffered untold hardships but still has the courage and the resilience to not only smile but also offer sharp insights about life and the people she works for. As the teleplay progresses, it becomes clear that she is no ordinary woman and is more than just an unappreciated, overworked 'bai’. The story offers a window into the lives of millions of domestic workers who continue to serve with a smile despite their personal tribulations. Filmed by Suman Mukhopadhyay, the teleplay will be aired on 22nd April on Tata Play Theatre.
'Jhaanjhar Di Paanwan Chhankaar'
Adapted from 'Butterflies Are Free', a 1972 American comedy based on the 1969 play by Leonard Gershe, this comedy-drama revolves around a blind young man who wants to lead an independent personal and creative life away from the controlling protectiveness of his mother. He moves in with a neighbour who is an aspiring actor and has taken up an unusual role in a movie. The two discover interesting things about each other's lives and the play takes an interesting turn when the mother decides to interfere once again with this newfound freedom. Directed by Kanwal Khoosat and Sarmad Khoosat, the teleplay stars Sarmad himself along with Saniya Mumtaz, Zain Afzal and Iman Shahid. It will be aired on Tata Play Theatre on 30th April.
'Toba Tek Singh'
This classic tragedy penned by Saadat Hasan Manto is part of Zee Theatre's anthology, 'Koi Baat Chale.' Directed by Seema Pahwa and narrated by Manoj Pahwa, the story is set a few years after the Partition, when the governments of India and Pakistan decided to exchange some Muslim, Sikh and Hindu lunatics. At the heart of this tale is Bishan Singh, a Sikh inmate of a Lahore asylum who longs for his hometown Toba Tek Singh but when he learns that the town is now in Pakistan, he refuses to go. What happens next is both heart-breaking and eye-opening. Watch this dramatic reading on Airtel Theatre, Dish TV Rangmanch Active & D2h Rangmanch Active on 29th April.
'Idgah'
Munshi Premchand's slice of life and timeless story ‘Idgah’ is part of the Seema Pahwa directorial, 'Koi Baat Chale' and is read by Vinay Pathak. The story revolves around the selfless generosity of a young orphan Hamid and his quest to find the perfect Eid gift for his old grandmother Amina. Hamid believes that his father has left home to earn money and will return someday. He also thinks his mother has gone to Allah to fetch lovely gifts for him and untouched by the cynicism of adults, he does not let poverty stop him from making an extraordinary gesture for his grandmother. Watch 'Idgah' on 29th April on Airtel Theatre, Dish TV Rangmanch Active & D2h Rangmanch Active.
