One actor, one shawl, three mics and a stage performance that brings 52 characters to life – i.e. Varhad Swallow LondonlaA classic one-man Marathi play is coming to Hyderabad. This production promises a hilarious and heart-warming journey through Maharashtrian wedding traditions, emotions and humour.

evergreen comedy

Presented by theater and film actor Sandeep Pathak, Varhad Swallow Londonla – or ‘A Wedding Procession to London’ in Marathi – is a timeless comedy first presented by Laxmanrao Deshpande in 1976 at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, formerly Aurangabad. His one-man show ran for 2,800 performances by 2007 and even earned him a Guinness World Record.

Mixture of drama and comedy. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“If the Hyderabad audience blinks even for a second, the character on stage will change,” laughs Sandeep, referring to the many characters he has played.

with a touch of humor

Set in a village in rural Maharashtra, Varhad Swallow Londonla It follows Kashinath, a village boy who falls in love with a British girl in London. Although his traditionally-minded family was initially opposed to the match, they eventually agreed. Celebrations and confusion begin when relatives and villagers come together to take the wedding procession to London, where the wedding is scheduled to take place. A mixture of drama and humor unfolds when first-time travelers from rural areas board the airplane. “Their culture, innocence, doubt and humor create heart-touching moments,” says Sandeep, who is set to present his 610th show in Hyderabad.

When Lakshman Rao performed the play in the late 1970s, air travel was still rare. “Only a few people in the audience could relate to their first flight experience, but for others, the narration felt so real that they could imagine the funny moments, fear or confusion of wearing a seat belt or coming during take-off and landing,” says Sandeep. As the play celebrates its golden jubilee with this show in Hyderabad, it is noteworthy that the story and its iconic characters have remained unchanged over the decades.

strikes a chord

One-man show Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Even as air travel became common, the play resonated and remains popular. Sandeep says, “When Maharashtrians living in cities now watch the play, they connect with their roots and are immediately reminded of a relative in the village who might have had a similar experience. The play resonates with people because of its warmth, nostalgia and heart-touching moments.”

As the only actor driving the narrative, Sandeep moves between multiple characters – from Kashinath, the groom, children and grandparents to the bride’s father, an Englishman with an English accent – ​​and even creates the sounds of flights and trains. He admits that performing is both hectic and challenging. “I give my voice complete rest throughout the day until the evening performance. It’s not easy to change quickly between different voices and still sound authentic.”

Kamineni Hospitals in collaboration with Tatva Arts and Saksham Foundation will present the play Varhadh Khale Londonla on 6th September at 6 pm; Tickets: BookMyShow