Director and lead actor Paresh Rawal along with talented costars such as wife Swaroop Swampat, brings alive this play with laughter by the minute.
Y.K. Enterprises did it again by bringing the very successful Shaadi@barbaadi.com, a rib-tickling play directed by the brilliant actor Paresh Rawal, to beautiful Atlanta Symphony Hall on September 8. Provoking continuous and endless laughter,the play focuses on Manu Dhoodwala (PareshRawal), a man from a lower middle class family who falls in love with Mani Khandwala (Swaroop Sampat), a high society girl. The two get married, and the honeymoon quickly ends that is, the honeymoon between the mother-in-law (Swati Chande) and the daughter-in-law. Manu gets caught in the middle, while his father (played by the amazing Rohington Chesan), smartly tunes out the situation by leaving the house. To escape the daily duel between the two ladies of the house, Manu starts spending more and more time with an attractive office colleague (played by pretty Rinku Patel). Mani finds the two together, and after a confrontation, forgives her husband and reunites with him. So is this the happy ending? No, it is just the calm before the next storm
The play delighted the audience with its spicy, hilarious dialogues and impeccable performances from every cast member. Abhay Harpaley and Rinku Patel do double duty as the sutradhars or commentators who establish the story’s background. With his understanding of the American culture, Paresh Rawal has changed some of the dialogues specifically for Indians living in America. For example, on their wedding night Mani tries to follow instructions from the book Honeymoon for Dummies! On another occasion, Manu comments on how the raddiwala must have opened a Home depot from the items Mani had thrown out of the house to annoy her mother-in-law. Each line is packed with witticism. Asked if her beau look like Salman Khan, Mani quips “No this one wears a shirt!” When Manu asks his wife if she loves him, she coos, “ Mere Pran mere Jeevan Mere Gulshan.” He shoots back asking why she is naming all of the villains in Hindi movies.
Both Rohington Chesan and Swati Chande excel as Manu’s parents. Chande gives a superlative performance as the bossy and disgruntled mother-in law who finds her status as a matriarch in jeopardy. While her make up and role indicate otherwise, Chande-a very young girl appears to be younger than Sampat. Manu, caught between the mother and the wife is pulled around like a yoyo.
The ending has Manu praying to lord Krishna for help. Krishna comes onstage and exclaims – “How can I do anything for you. I’m caught between thousands of wives” The play’s message is that as long as one is in a relationship the sparks will continue to fly.
Paresh Rawal ended the play with the following words.” If you liked the play tell your friends. If you didn’t, tell your mother in law.”The play is perhaps the only one that has had a second successful tour in the United States. After seeing the performance one can say the success is very well deserved. Its popularity also reflects the drawing power of Paresh Rawal. The show was a sell out, and Rawal’s entry was welcomed by a thunderous applause. Kamru Hamrani certainly deserves kudos for continuing to bring high quality shows to Atlanta.