Kasturba Gandhi wins hearts on stage

The play narrates the story of Kasturba Gandhi
Play: Jagadamba
Director: Sanjay Maggirwar
Cast: Yashodhara Deshpande Maitra
Production: Padatik
Stars: ***
The Padatik production is about a freedom fighter — someone who was as well acquainted with Arthur Road Jail as Sabarmati Ashram. It's about. a daughter-in-law who took on all the responsibilities of a big family with a smile. It's about a wife — the partner who devoted her entire life to a single cause: her husband.It tells the story of a mother — of not just her own children but an entire nation — the jagadamba. The play is about a woman — Kasturba Mohandas Gandhi. Bringing her to life on stage is Yashodhara Deshpande Maitra.
Maitra's little gestures, at times to show hopelessness or indignity and sometimes to portray utmost affection or mild anger, tell more about Kasturba than the words — translated from Marathi by the actress herself. And although she uses very little stage space, she narrates the entire life journey of the jagadamba, condensing incidents into memories, experiences into anecdotes. The manner in which Maitra fidgets with her pallu and the portrayal of exertion caused by old age make her seem more believable as the immortal freedom fighter.
Between stories of pain and struggles, it's interesting how director Sanjay Maggirwar depicts Kasturba's wit. So, while narrating an instance, when she says, “For the first time Bapu asked a family member to stay out of jail," it makes Kasturba seem all the more real and endearing.
Although it is steeped in history, the script seems too long at times — perhaps because it tries to share many events in a span of 90 minutes. There is little to be said about the light or stage design — both adhere to Gandhi's minimalistic theme. But the sound department could use some help. The sound effects start abruptly and continue in a sketchy manner, which disturbs the flow of the drama. And since it's almost imperative to use Vaishnava jana to and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram in any project related to Gandhi, it's used in this production too. But yes, it adds to the ambience.
At the very beginning of the play , Kasturba admits, “Even to take a few steps, I need Bapu's support." But, in her journey on stage, she needs no one.