New Delhi
Named for the coveted Padma Shri, Maharashtra’s 70-year-old Zadipatti theatre artist Parshuram Komaji Khune is popularly known as ‘Vidarbhacha Dada Kondke’ (Dada Kondke of Vidarbha, after the legendary Marathi actor and producer). Khune is said to have played a mind-boggling 800 different roles in over 5000 dramas. And that makes him a one of his kind in the field.
From the heavily Naxal-infested Gadchiroli, Khune will receive Padma Shri for his contribution to the rehabilitation of youths in Naxal-affected areas and the use of folk theatre for social causes like de-addiction, superstition and hygiene among others.
So, what is Zadipatti? It’s a theatre art that derives its name from the local name Zadi for rice and practised in Maharashtra’s eastern region inhabited by tribes like Gond, Korfu and Pardhi. Known as Zadipatti Rangbhumi, it is performed in the rice-cultivating region of Maharashtra during the harvest season and is a blend of commercial and folk theatre forms with live music playing a vital part. Interestingly, the actors are singers as well. Zadipatti was born out of the tribal performing art called Dandar, a theatrical performance combining music and dance.
Khune getting named for the Padma Shri is a shot in the arm for the Zadipatti theatre movement and the Vidarbha region. Khune dedicated the coveted award to the connoisseurs of Zadipatti theatre and expressed his gratitude towards his family members who supported him in his social endeavours.
There are instances of those like his efforts facilitating the return of youth to the social mainstream after getting lured to Naxalism. The youth got engaged in folk art as part of their rehabilitation process.
His rich repertoire of performances includes widely popular roles like that of Taliram in ‘Sangeet Ekach Pyala’, Shankhnaad in ‘Simhacha Chhaawa’, Awadhoot in ‘Sangeet Lagnachi Bedi’, Ganpa in ‘Lavani Bhulali Abhangala’.
Khune, the magician, has used his bagful of tricks to eradicate superstitions too. And his role as the Sarpanch of Gurnoli Gram Panchayat came in handy for it. As the Sarpanch, he noticed that superstitions were dominating the public mind and so he started presenting magic shows in festivals and making people aware against superstitions.
As a Sarpanch he also played a key role in implementing innovative developmental initiatives. No wonder then that, before the Padma Shri for his contribution to art, his contribution to agriculture was recognized by the Maharashtra Government, which honoured him with the ‘Shetinishtha Shetkari Puraskar’.
While he was president of the Zadipatti Kala Niketan for 10 long years, he was also elected president of Zadipatti Natya Sammelan.
