{{short description|Pune-based theatre group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox organization | name = Natak Company | image = Logo_for_the_theatre_troupe_Natak_Company.jpg | caption = Natak Company | formation = {{start date and age|2008}} | founding_location = Pune, India | type = Theatre troupe | language = Marathi }}

'''Natak Company''' is a Pune-based theatre troupe. Its previous members include Nipun Dharmadhikari, Alok Rajwade, Amey Wagh, Siddharth Menon, Abhay Mahajan and Parna Pethe. In 2018, the group celebrated its 10th anniversary by organising a theatre festival at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, Kothrud.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/theatre/one-reunion-for-natak-co-a-giant-treat-for-puneites/articleshow/64410670.cms|title=One reunion for Natak Co; a giant treat for Puneites|last=Bhanage|first=Mihir|date=5 June 2018|website=Times of India|access-date=18 March 2019}}</ref>

== History == The troupe formed in 2008 as a collaboration between the students of Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce and Fergusson College.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/pune-s-natak-company-a-decade-of-theatrical-artistic-triumph/story-y3cJtZZ5ENEvfb4fJfqqcO.html|title=Pune's Natak Company: A decade of theatrical, artistic triumph|last=Shetty|first=Anjali|date=2018-05-27|language=en|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref> The founding members were Amey Wagh, Nipun Dharmadhikari, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Parna Pethe, Abhay Mahajan, Om Bhutkar Gandhaar Sangoram, Dharmakirti Sumant, Soumitra Gapchup, Ravi Choudhary, Siddhesh Purkar and Sayali Pathak. It grew to around 150 members.

Since being staged in 2009, their play ''Dalan'' has received positive response.<ref name="PuneMirror2Good">{{Cite web |last=Nambiar |first=Shruti |date=23 March 2012 |title=Two Good |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/two-good/927262/2 |access-date=2019-06-13 |website=Indian Express Archive}}</ref> The troupe performed in Italy's Universo Teatro in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30-2017/30-under-30-alok-rajwade-is-daring-in-the-issues-he-addresses-in-his-plays/45783/1|title=30 Under 30: Alok Rajwade is daring in the issues he addresses in his plays|last=Banerjee|first=Jasodhara|date=8 February 2017|website=Forbes India|language=en|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref> In 2014, in the memory of Tanveer, Rupwedh Pratishthan awarded the group an amount of 1.3 lakhs.<ref name="LoksattaBinkamacheSanvaad">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loksatta.com/pune-news/on-the-eve-of-tanveer-smrutidin-natak-co-honoured-1046397/|title=९ डिसेंबरला 'बिनकामाचे संवाद'|trans-title='Binkamache Sanvaad' on 7 December|date=2014-12-01|website=Loksatta|language=mr-IN|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref> In 2016, they staged their play ''Sindhu, Sudhakar, Rum ani Itar'' at NCPA's Pratibimb Marathi Theatre Festival.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/entertainment/Classic-Marathi-theatre-refurbished/article14553138.ece|title=Classic Marathi theatre, refurbished|last=Phukan|first=Vikram|date=2016-08-05|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-06-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> They revived Satish Alekar's play ''Mahanirvan'', which was performed at Vinod Doshi Memorial Fest and National School of Drama's Theatre Olympics in February 2018.<ref name="MahanirvanHindu"/> In 2019, they started a year-long series of talks related to theatre, called ''Kaan Drushti''. It was curated by Parna Pethe.<ref name="Kaan Drushti">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/natak-company-to-host-third-edition-of-kaan-drushti-on-march-31/story-9JrJV4xNdW1Wd9qwgkTmnN.html|title=Natak Company to host third edition of Kaan Drushti on March 31|date=2019-03-29|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-10-08|last=Shetty|first=Anjali}}</ref>

==Plays== The troupe is known for its experimental works<ref name="MumbaiMirrorRelative">{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/relative-value-act-ten/articleshow/64525697.cms|title=Relative value: Act ten|date=10 June 2018|last=Unnithan|first=Vidya|website=Mumbai Mirror|language=en|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref> and revivals of Marathi classic plays, such as ''Mahanirvan.''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/retelling-a-classic-tale-of-urban-dystopia/article24834695.ece|title=Retelling a classic tale of urban dystopia|last=Phukan|first=Vikram|date=31 August 2018|access-date=18 March 2019|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> Other plays include ''Sutti Butti, Don Shoor, Mi...Ghalib, Geli Ekvis Varsha, Patient, Binkamache Sanwad, Tem, Dalan, Sindhu Sudhakar Rum ani Itar, Aparadhi Sugandh, Natak Nako, Shivachritra ani ek, Chakra, and Ek Divas Mathakade.''<ref name="LoksattaBinkamacheSanvaad"/> {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Selected Plays ! First show !! Title !! Translated Title !! Writer !! Director !! Plot summary & Cast || Refs |- |rowspan=6| 2009 || ''Geli Ekvis Warsha'' || ''In the last 21 years'' || Dharmakirti Sumant || Alok Rajwade | A coming-of-age play centred around a recently graduated protagonist and his personal struggles <br />Cast: Amey Wagh, Siddharth Menon, Saylee Pathak & Manali Bibikar |<ref name="PuneMirrorPlayful2009">{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/cover-story/Students-in-playful-mode/articleshow/32508333.cms|title=Students in playful mode|last=Ranade|first=Arundhati|website=Pune Mirror|language=en|access-date=13 May 2019|date=31 October 2009|archive-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111110253/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/cover-story/students-in-playful-mode/articleshow/32508333.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |''Sutti Butti'' || || || Nipun Dharmadhikari | Based on the Russian story ''Disobedience Holiday'' by Sergei Mikhalkov. |<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/artfully-yours/455788/2|title=Art-fully yours|website=Indian Express|date=7 May 2009|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref> |- |''Tidha'' || ''Entanglement'' || Saaket Kanetkar || Saaket Kanetkar |The play deals with a protagonist who has the Oedipus Complex. The story is about how he decides to tread a different path.<br />Cast: Siddharth Menon, Gautam Reddi, Anuja Sathe, Ankita Parad |<ref name="PuneMirrorPlayful2009" /> |- |''Dalan''|| || Based on short story by DM Mirasdar Adapted to stage by Abhay Mahajan |Nipun Dharmadhikari |A comedy set in a small village in Maharashtra about a teacher who can guess whether the mother of a student would be good-looking, by looking at the child. Cast: Amey Wagh, Alok Rajwade, Depti Bawiskar, Amruta Bhagwat, Saurabh Daftardar & Amol Gokhale |<ref name="PuneMirror2Good" /><ref name="PuneMirror24Company">{{Cite web |last=Brahme |first=Nitin |date=31 July 2009 |title=Two for company |url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/unwind/Two-for-company/articleshow/32548238.cms |access-date=2019-06-11 |website=Pune Mirror |language=en |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109210613/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/unwind/two-for-company/articleshow/32548238.cms |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- |''Zaada Lawnara Manus''|| ''The Man Who Plants Trees'' || ||Dharmakirti Sumant | A musical play |<ref name="PuneMirror24Company"/> |- |''Don Shoor''|| ''Two Bravehearts'' || ||Alok Rajwade | Based on a story by Anton Chekov. It revolves around two travellers who meet and talk to each other as the story progresses. Cast: Om Bhutkar, Abhay Mahajan |<ref name="PuneMirror3Cheers2009"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/unwind/Playing-the-best/articleshow/32042050.cms|date=15 September 2011|title=Playing the best!|last=Shetty|first=Anjali|website=Pune Mirror|language=en|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref> |- |2010 || ''Institute of Pavtology''|| – || Santosh Shintre || Alok Rajwade |A satire on the problem of hooliganism.<br />Cast: Abhay Mahajan, Aditya Patil, Akshay Tanksale, Soumitra Gapchup, Siddharth Menon, Ruturaj Shinde, Kaustubh Deshmane & Suraj Parasnis. |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/black-magic-2/|title=Black magic|first=Aashay |last=Khandekar |date=2014-08-01|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-06-11}}</ref> |- |2014 || ''Binkamache Sanwad'' || ''Pointless Conversations'' ||Dharmakirti Sumant||Alok Rajwade |It deals with the state of lack of ideals in the current youth. |<ref name="LoksattaBinkamacheSanvaad"/><ref name="Binkamache">{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/Mark-their-word/articleshow/48127172.cms|title=Mark their word|date=19 July 2015|last=Ghosh|first=Suktara|website=Pune Mirror|language=en|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref> |- |2016||''Sindhu, Sudhakar, Rum ani itar''|| ''Sindhu, Sudhakar, Rum and Others'' || Ashutosh Potdar ||Alok Rajwade |A dramatic retelling of the classic play ''Ekach Pyala''. The story begins with Rama and Raghu, costume designers preparing towards a period film, based on the play. |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/Experimental-plays-rule-theatre-fest-stage/articleshow/54400502.cms|title=Experimental plays rule theatre fest stage |date=19 September 2016|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref> |- |rowspan=2|2018 ||''A Doubtful Gaze at Uber at Midnight''|| – || Dharmakirti Sumant || Alok Rajwade |The story revolves around Saket and his conversations with his cab driver. It was performed first at Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa.<br /> Cast: Siddharth Menon |<ref name="PuneMirrorDestination2018">{{Cite news|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/unwind/destination-not-known/articleshow/71069991.cms|title=Destination not known|last=Kulkarni|first=Kimaya|date=2018-09-11|work=Pune Mirror|access-date=2019-10-08|language=en|archive-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008125516/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/unwind/destination-not-known/articleshow/71069991.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |''Mahanirvan''|| ''The Dread Departure'' || || Satish Alekar |It is a two-act play in Marathi, set in a chawl in Pune. The story revolves around Bhaurao, a chawl dweller who struggles to convince his wife that he died in his sleep. It was first staged in 1974.<br />Cast: Nachiket Devasthali, Siddharth Mahashabde, Sayalee Phatak |<ref name="MahanirvanHindu">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/mahanirvan-revival-and-relevance-today/article23321806.ece|title=Reviving a four decade old play|last=Ramnarayan|first=Gowri|date=2018-03-22|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-06-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/iconic-play-mahanirvan-to-get-revived/19761155|title=Iconic play Mahanirvan to get revived|date=2018-09-02|website=Mid-Day|first=Kasturi |last=Gadge|language=en|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/columns/columnists/shanta-gokhale/laughing-to-the-grave/articleshow/63521064.cms|title=Natak Company: Laughing to the grave |website=Pune Mirror |last=Gokhale |first=Shanta |author-link=Shanta Gokhale |date=29 March 2018 |access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref> |}

== Recognition == *''Cycle'' (Purushottam Karandak in 2005).<ref name="MumbaiMirrorRelative" /> *''Dalan'' (Thespo in 2008) *''Geli Ekvees Varsha'' (Thespo in 2009) * Best Play for ''Don Shoor'' (Purushottam Karandak in 2009)<ref name="PuneMirror3Cheers2009">{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/unwind/Three-cheers/articleshow/32676232.cms|title=Three cheers!|last=Ranade|first=Arundhati|website=Pune Mirror|language=en|date=28 January 2009|access-date=2019-06-12|archive-date=30 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430094730/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/unwind/Three-cheers/articleshow/32676232.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Best Set and Best Actor for ''Don Shoor'' (Sawai Karandak in 2009)<ref name="PuneMirror3Cheers2009"/> * Best Play and Best Actor in Lead Role (13th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Award in 2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/a-striking-win/articleshow/63957077.cms|title=A striking win|last=Unnithan|first=Vidya|date=29 Apr 2018|website=Pune Mirror|access-date=18 March 2019}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.natakcompany.org/}}

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Category:Theatre companies in India Category:Organisations based in Maharashtra Category:Performing arts in Maharashtra Category:2008 establishments in Maharashtra Category:Arts organizations established in 2008 Category:Culture of Pune