Marathi play 'Albatya Galbatya' nears 1,000 shows, special song event on September 28
The Marathi children's play "Albatya Galbatya" nears its 1,000th show, with a special song-unveiling event set for September 28 in Thane.
The popular children's play "Albatya Galbatya", directed by Chinmay Mandlekar and produced by Advait Theatre, is heading towards its 1,000th show. The play was written nearly 50 years ago by the late writer Ratnakar Matkari, and has since been loved by children and adults alike. It has set several records on the Marathi children's theatre circuit.
In just 365 days, the play ran to houseful audiences for 333 shows, a record in itself. There have been days when four or five shows were staged, and on one occasion the same team performed six shows in a single day. According to information from 2024, the play crossed the 800-show mark in six years, excluding the COVID period, and has been moving towards its 1,000th show since.
"Albatya Galbatya" is said to be more than just entertainment for children, it is also credited with shaping children's personalities while introducing them to the values of the Marathi language. The songs in the play have also been especially popular with audiences. The engaging story, the songs and the on-stage entertainment have together given the play a special place in children's hearts.
The songs for the play were written by Chinmay Mandlekar, Ratnakar Matkari, Samruddhi Pandey, Sanchit Gaikwad and Sanskari. They have been sung by Avadhoot Gupte, Vaishali Samant and the child artists performing in the play. These songs will now also be made available separately for children.
The music for these songs will be unveiled on Monday, September 28, at Gadkari Rangayatan in Thane. The special event will be held after the play's show, which runs from 8 am to 10.30 am.
Vidyadhar Anaskar, administrator of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank Limited, and Neelam Shirke, president of the Balrangbhoomi Parishad, will be the chief guests at the event. The songs of "Albatya Galbatya" will be unveiled by them.
The unveiling of the songs marks another important milestone in the journey of "Albatya Galbatya" as it heads towards its 1,000th show. Having entertained audiences for nearly five decades, the children's play's journey is also considered significant for Marathi theatre.
