Devbabhali Brings Rakhumai, Aavali’s Unsung Story To Life | Nagpur News

Nagpur: For centuries, the world has sung Tukaram’s abhangs and folded its hands before Lord Vitthal, celebrating the saint who surrendered himself to his god. Far less, however, has been said about the women who remained at the edges of that devotion — Aavali, whose husband belonged more to Vitthal than to his home, and Rakhumai, whose divine consort was worshipped by everyone but was not always beside her.On Thursday evening, sangeet natak ‘Devbabhali’ brought these two women, long confined to margins of Bhakti literature, into spotlight at 33rd Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Memorial Music Festival. Staged on second day of the 3-day festival organised by South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), the Marathi musical presented Rakhumai, Lord Vitthal’s consort, and Aavali, saint Tukaram’s wife, not merely as companions but as lonely and resilient women who gradually recognise their own grief in one another.As their conversation moved between accusation and affection, longing and acceptance, Deshpande Hall seemed to dissolve into the intimate world they shared. Distance between the mortal and divine faded, leaving behind quiet ache of two women who had spent their lives standing in the shadow of devotion.Mansi Joshi’s Rakhumai carried the restrained hurt of a goddess unable to understand why Vitthal had bowed at the feet of a mortal devotee, while Shubhangi Sadavarte’s Aavali bore the weariness of watching Tukaram surrender himself completely to faith. What begins as an uneasy encounter slowly grows into a tender sisterhood, as the two exchange their sorrows and find in each other someone who understands what it means to be deeply loved and repeatedly left behind.Through live singing, traditional and newly composed abhangs, moments of humour and emotional candour, the production shifted familiar devotional gaze away from the saint and deity towards sacrifices of those rarely remembered in their legends.Thursday’s staging marked 891st performance of Devbabhali, which has garnered 44 awards to date. Presented by Bhadrakali Productions, Mumbai, the play is produced by Prasad Kambli, written and directed by Prajakt Deshmukh, with music composed by Anand Oak and lighting designed by Prafulla Dixit.The fest opened with a classical vocal recital by Padma Shri Shubha Mudgal, followed by a sitar recital by Niladri Kumar. The festival will conclude on Friday with a flute recital by Padma Shri Pt Ronu Majumdar, followed by a classical performance by ‘Swaradhish’ Dr Bharat Balvalli.