Mera Wo Matlab Nahi Tha

Mera Wo Matlab Nahi Tha – “I did not mean that” is the dialogue the central characters repeats many times, as every guy does in a relationship! The play is about two childhood lovers – Pritam and Hema – who could not marry each other due to circumstances. They meet after thirty-five years in a garden and walk down the memory lanes. There are so many things that needs to be shared between them, few secrets untold, and still, a present that they share in the morning hours sitting in the park. Far from being another tale of unrequited love, the play brings out different shades – their friendship, their bad memories, their prejudices and their trust in each other.

While the play has nothing new to offer on the topic-front, it treats it very well. It is also a must to watch for the performance of Anupam Kher. It is an absolute pleasure to watch Anupam Kher live. His acting acumen aside, his sheer energy on the stage moves the audience. Neena Gupta is dignified in her portrayal of Hema, but also excels in one of the very darkest performances, that shocks audience in post-interval. Cameo of Satish Kaushik through the multimedia is very funny! The write-director Rakesh Bedi has few guest appearances, unrelated to the main story. The dialogues, audio-visuals and the settings are apt to the play and are done aesthetically.

This otherwise a ‘good’ category play is transformed into something great and immensely enjoyable thanks to the stellar performances of the leads. The play borders on being a perfect family evening. Do note that few scenes (one scene in particular) can be hard for very young audience. It should be okay for 12+, though.

AglaPlay Verdict: A good play with amazing performances
AglaPlay Rating: 3.5/5
Language: Hindi 
Duration: 2 Hours (Approx.)
Writer: Rakesh Bedi 
Director: Rakesh Bedi
Cast: Anupam Kher (Preetam),
Neena Gupta (Hema),
Rakesh Bedi (Neighbour)
Satish Kaushik (On-Video, Preetam's relative)

Below are a few relevant links.

Other Links
About the Play by Anupam Kher [Do Watch]
Anupam Kher Wikipedia
Neena Gupta Wikipedia

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