As Marathi Theater Day is celebrated across the state today, the inspiring story behind the day shines once again.

Vishnudas Bhave was born in the year 1819 in the house of Amrita Rao, who was a servant of Srimanta Chintamanrao Patwardhan, the ruler of Sangli. From his childhood, he had an extraordinary fascination for arts, crafts and creativity. He had mastered the skill of making wooden dolls and making them look alive.

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On the strength of these talents, Bhave thought of presenting the play ‘Sita Swayamvar’ through puppets. However, at that time Chintamanrao Patwardhan told them. “Oh, don’t play this game for dolls, create a live game like the Bhagwat congregation plays kirtana!” And this moment became the first breath of Marathi theatre!

On November 5, 1843, the play ‘Sita Swayamvar’ staged at the ‘Durbar Hall’ in Sangli’s palace laid the foundation of Marathi theatre. This experiment with the support of the kings gave a new life to Marathi drama and opened the theater of theater culture for many generations to come.

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Vishnudas Bhave not only composed plays, but awakened theatrical sensibilities in the Marathi mind. That is why he is considered as the father of Marathi theatre. The tradition of his work became so strong that for many years, renowned drama companies used to present their new plays in Sangli for the first time.

“The experiment was successful in Sangli, so it will be successful everywhere!” This feeling remained in the minds of the artists.

Today, every actor, director and theater lover salutes this tradition while celebrating Theater Day on 5th November. The theater light lit by Vishnudas Bhave is still shining brightly.