Mohan No Masalo

{{short description|2015 Gujarati play}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox play | name = Mohan No Masalo | image = Mohan-no-masalo.jpg | caption = Official poster | writer ={{plainlist| * Ishan Doshi (English) * Satya Mehta (Gujarati translation) * Arpit Jain (Hindi translation) }} | characters = Mohandas Gandhi | mute = | setting = 19th century | premiere = {{Start date|df=y|2015|3|22}} | place = National Centre for the Performing Arts | orig_lang = Gujarati | subject = Mohandas Gandhi | genre = Biographical one-man play | web = https://www.iuproduction.com/mohans-masala }} '''''Mohan No Masalo''''' (English: ''Mohan's Recipe'') is a 2015 biographical one-man play about Mahatma Gandhi, starring Pratik Gandhi. Written by Ishan Doshi and directed by Manoj Shah, it depicts the early life of Mohandas Gandhi. First performed in Gujarati, the play later staged in English and Hindi. It was included in the Limca Book of Records for its performances in three languages (English, Hindi and Gujarati) in a single day.

==Background== ''Mohan No Masalo'' was originally written in English by Ishan Doshi, and later translated into Gujarati by Satya Mehta, and into Hindi by Arpit Jain.<ref name="Phukan2016">{{cite news|last=Phukan|first=Vikram|title=Getting to know Gandhi|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 June 2016|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/entertainment/Getting-to-know-Gandhi/article14413586.ece|access-date=19 October 2020|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021072124/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/entertainment/Getting-to-know-Gandhi/article14413586.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> It was premiered on 22 March 2015 at National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA).<ref name="Bhatt2015">{{cite news|last=Bhatt|first=Vrunda R|title=It's more about Mohaniyo than Mahatma here: Ahead of World Theatre Day on March 27, we look at director Manoj Shah's only character MK Gandhi & Bapu's portrayal in Gujarati theatre|newspaper=DNA India|date=25 Mar 2015}}</ref>

== Plot synopsis == The play opens with Mohan searching for his missing diary. He meet people on a local train in Mumbai, then Mr. Somaiya who is known for his Gandhi collection, and John Briley who was a screenwriter of film ''Gandhi'' but no one had his diary. The diary contains the recollections from Gandhi's youth. He cries that everyone knows Mahatma (his later career) but no one knows Mohan (his early life).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Radhika|date=8 June 2016|title=Call Me Mohan|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/play/call-me-mohan-mohans-masala-manoj-shah-pratik-gandhi-2840041/|access-date=7 November 2020|newspaper=The Indian Express|archive-date=8 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608125300/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/play/call-me-mohan-mohans-masala-manoj-shah-pratik-gandhi-2840041/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Then Mohan narrates his life as a person who have come from Kathiawad. He talks about his parents, ancestors and associates as well as his life at Rajkot, Mumbai, London and Durban in South Africa at last. He describes his travel on the steamship. He wears western clothes during his barrister studies in London. He talks about well known events from his birth, childhood, teenage and youth; each connecting to one of the concepts of Gandhian philosophy.<ref name="Bhayani2010" />

==Reception== ''Mohan No Masalo'' was included in the Limca Book of Records for "performance of one play in multiple languages in one day" in 2016.<ref name="The Coca-Cola Company 2018">{{cite web|title=Performance of One Play in Multiple Language (One Day)|website=The Coca-Cola Company|date=13 November 2018|url=https://www.coca-colaindia.com/stories/performance-of-one-play-in-multiple-language--one-day-|access-date=3 October 2020}}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Utpal Bhayani praised the concept of "recipe to Mahatma" introducing early life of Gandhi to the audience as well as solo performance of Pratik Gandhi. He found the settings, costumes and properties appropriate to the time.<ref name="Bhayani2010">{{cite book|last=Bhayani|first=Utpal|author-link=Utpal Bhayani|title=Rangbhoomi 2015: Reviews of Dramas Performed on Stage in Different Languages and Other Articles on Theatre During 2009|year=2016|location=Mumbai|publisher=Image Publication Pvt. Ltd.|pages=28–30|isbn=978-81-7997-710-1|language=gu}}</ref> Keyur Seta of the ''Mumbai Theatre Guide'' calls the play "nothing new" but "entertaining". He praised writing, direction and the performance while criticising the lighting.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Seta|first=Keyur|title=Mohan No Masalo|url=https://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/reviews/mohan-no-masalo-gujarati-play-reviews.asp#|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027203606/https://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/reviews/mohan-no-masalo-gujarati-play-reviews.asp|archive-date=2020-10-27|access-date=2020-10-21|website=Mumbai Theatre Guide}}</ref> Deepa Gahlot writing for ''Mid-day'' praised the direction, writing and the performance. She particularly find it "entertaining" because it is "peppered with humour and delivered with verve".<ref name="Gahlot 2015">{{cite news|last=Gahlot|first=Deepa|author-link=Deepa Gahlot|title=Dial M For Mahatma|newspaper=Mid-Day|date=24 March 2015|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/dial-m-for-mahatma/16087161|access-date=21 October 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027203607/https://www.mid-day.com/articles/dial-m-for-mahatma/16087161|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:2015 plays Category:Biographical plays about philosophers Category:Biographical plays about politicians Category:Biographical plays about writers Category:Plays depicting Mahatma Gandhi Category:Gujarati-language plays Category:Plays for one performer Category:Plays set in India Category:Works about Mahatma Gandhi