Stay on ‘Marathi Play ‘Itthala’ for Defaming Varkari Sect !

Collective efforts by the Varkari Sect, HJS and other devout Hindus yield success
Warning by Minister Uday Samant; Instructs to change names, characters and concept
Producers of the play tender an apology to devout Hindu activists

From left – Minister Mr Uday Samant receiving memorandum, Mr Sunil Ghanwat (handing over the memorandum) and BJP MLA Mr Satyajit Deshmukh

Characters from the play ‘Itthala’ dressed like Varkari

Mumbai / Ratnagiri – The shows of the Marathi play titled ‘Itthala’, which denigrates Varkari Sampradaya, Sant-Parampara (tradition) and devotion for Lord Vitthala, have been stopped after there were protests against the play across Maharashtra. State Industries and Marathi Bhasha Minister and Ratnagiri District’s Guardian Minister, Uday Samant, took a serious note of the issue and admonished the producers of this controversial play. The producers of this play have promised, in writing, to stop the show and to change the names of the characters and the plot.

1. During the 64th Maharashtra State Amateur Marathi Natya Spardha, the play ‘Itthala’ was staged in the final round. It has been produced by Jaiprakash Pakhare and ‘Veershaiva Community, Lanja’ and directed by Amol Rangayatri.

2. The members of Varkari Sampradaya and HJS seekers were infuriated after watching the play. Varkari devotees have been depicted as weapons in the play, and there is a deliberate attempt to malign the image of the Varkari Sect.

3. Realising the gravity of the situation, Mr Sunil Ghanwat, the State coordinator of HJS for Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, besides Mr Satish Sonar and Ravi Nalawade, met Minister Uday Samant and submitted a detailed memorandum to him.

4. Minister Samant immediately contacted the producer of this play and instructed him to stop this distortion in the name of Saints, sternly asking him to change the names of Saints given to the characters in this play and change the concept of portraying the Varkari Sect as a violent sect.

5. After the minister’s stance, the producers of the play ‘Veershaiva Samaj, Lanja’ gave a written letter to HJS informing them that the shows of the play were being stopped, considering the objections raised by the Varkari Sect and HJS. It was also mentioned in the letter that the play will be staged after carrying out necessary changes in the names and objectionable incidents.

Denigration of the seats of worship will never be tolerated !

HJS stated in its memorandum that denigration of our seats of worship will not be tolerated under the guise of freedom of expression. HJS also appreciated Minister Uday Samant’s prompt action, realising the sentiments of Varkari Sect.

The objectionable and infuriating part in the play

1. The couple that always chants Shri Vitthal’s name kills ten innocent guests, thus portraying Varkari devotees as criminals.

2. The characters in the play have been named as Tuka, Jana and Nama which are the names of our revered Saints and they are shown killing people. It is a grave insult of Varkari Saints.

3. The mother (Jana) is so engrossed in chanting Vitthal’s name that she kills her own son (Nama). This inhuman scene misleads people.

Editorial Perspectives

It is the massive collective success of the Varkari Sect, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), and other devout Hindu organisations. Hindus may offer gratitude to God for this success.