When Konkani natak (drama) Ganv Zala Zantto, staged five shows in the United Kingdom in September 2024, it broke barriers. Earlier, it was primarily Konkani tiatrs that found a stage abroad, especially in Goan diaspora hubs like the UK and the Gulf.
Ganv Zala Zantto became the first Konkani natak to be staged across the borders. Now it's time for another big record for the play, one which husband-wife duo, Rajdeep Naik and Suchita Narvekar, and their team, are excited about.
READY FOR A NEW RECORD
On May 18, at Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir in Ponda, the cast of the play will attempt to enter the World Records India by staging seven full-length performances in a single day, surpassing the record of six set by the Marathi play Albattya Galbattya in 2024. Each show will run for over two hours with short intermissions of half an hour.
At the heart of Ganv Zala Zantto, which when translated to English means 'The Village Has Grown Old', lie two powerful Goa narratives: the controversial diversion of the Mhadei river by Karnataka, and the emotional unravelling of a family at the crossroads.
INSPIRED BY A GOAN VILLAGE
The comedy play revolves around Jalesh and Jalpurna, a couple with opposing visions for their son’s future. While Jalpurna, who considers herself modern and city-minded, wants her son to leave the village, Jalesh insists on staying rooted, advocating for the community and its endangered water source.
Suchita, who wrote the play, has been inspired by her husband Rajdeep’s own village of Savoi-Verem, which has been witnessing abandonment by its younger generations. "I used to love how full-of-life the village once was. Today, it feels deserted. Only the elderly remain, living in isolation and fear," she rues.
‘NOT A POLITICAL PLAY’
The script, which took over three years to develop, does not just aim to entertain; it seeks to awaken. “This is not a political play. We’re not targeting any government. It is a wake-up call,” says Suchita.
The Mhadei water crisis resonates deeply with Goans, and the natak strikes at the very core of Goan identity and the urgent need for environmental sustainability.
Rajdeep, who is the producer of the natak, has been instrumental in turning his wife's script into a powerful stage performance. "We wanted the audience to feel what is at stake. When you present an issue like Mhadei through the story of a family, a village and a dying river, it becomes real. People connect not just with facts, but with feelings.”
This is not a political play. We’re not targeting any government. It is a wake-up call
Suchita Narvekar, writer
RECORD WITHIN A RECORD
While Ganv Zala Zantto has won hearts across Goa, many remain unaware of the extraordinary contribution of five-year-old Bhumee Naik Narvekar, daughter of Rajdeep and Suchita. On May 18, Bhumee is also poised to set a personal milestone by performing in at least five and up to seven shows in a single day.
Remarkably, Bhumee has acted in all 180 shows of the play so far, a feat of rare dedication for someone so young. Her name, Bhumee, meaning “land,” strikes a chord as it speaks of a deep sense of belonging and what Goa is losing. She reminds us that the future of Goan theatre is bright.
FREE OF COST
All seven shows will be performed free of cost for the public at Rajiv Kala Mandir, Ponda. Those interested in attending can book their tickets online through the official website: www.kalachetanavolvoi.com
Both Rajdeep and Suchita emphasise that Ganv Zala Zantto isn't just a must-watch for Goans, but it's a story with a universal theme. Here are the reasons why you must watch the play:
IT SPEAKS TO EVERYONE
Whether you live in a tucked-away ward of a village or thousands of miles away in London or Dubai, the play touches a nerve that lives in every heart. It is about the connection to one's gaon (village), to the trees and mud paths, the feasts, the zatras and the rituals.
Migration is a reality, not only for Goans, but for others and all this for the sake of better education, employment, or for better standard of living. But with migration comes a subtle erosion of identity. Ganv Zala Zantto reminds everyone: Don’t forget your village and roots. It urges everyone to reconnect with the culture and values that shaped them.
IT'S A SOCIALLY RELEVANT NARRATIVE
Ganv Zala Zantto addresses a deeply political and ecological issue: the Mhadei river dispute.
The ongoing diversion by Karnataka threatens not just water levels, but entire ecosystems, local livelihoods, and cultural landscapes that have evolved around the river. Yet, for many, the gravity of the issue remains wrapped in bureaucratic jargon, legal petitions, and government rhetoric.
This natak brings that issue to the fore and gives the Mhadei river a human face through Jalesh’s fierce loyalty to his land and his struggle to make others understand that water isn’t just water. It’s survival and identity.
By presenting this crisis through drama, Ganv Zala Zantto reaches where speeches and rallies often cannot: the heart.