Ratnagiri Guardian Minister Uday Samant assures legal action if ‘Iththala’ play is staged

Attempt to stage controversial ‘Iththala’ play in Ratnagiri despite ban

Hindu janajagruti Samiti and Warkari Sampradaya submit memorandum to Ratnagiri Guardian Minister at ‘Janata Darbar’

Ratnagiri, Maharashtra – The play ‘Iththala’, which insults the Warkari Sampradaya, has faced strong opposition across Maharashtra from the Warkari Sampradaya, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Vitthal devotees, and devout Hindu followers. Despite a ban on the play in Maharashtra, attempts are being made to stage it. Taking a firm stand on this issue, Guardian Minister Dr Uday Samant has warned that legal action will be taken if the play is performed.

Uday Samant expressed this position on 11 April during the ‘Janata Darbar’ held at the District Planning Committee hall in the Collector’s office in Ratnagiri. He was speaking while a memorandum was submitted to him by representatives of the Warkari Sampradaya and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti regarding attempts to stage the play despite the ban.

Earlier, when Shri. Sunil Ghanwat, State Organiser (Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh) of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, had submitted a memorandum, Guardian Minister Dr. Samant had issued strict instructions to the organisers of the play to change the name of the play, remove the names of saints given to the characters, and immediately modify the concept that portrays the Warkari Sampradaya as violent. He had also clarified that the said play should not be staged again.

Despite this, it was reported in the Janata Darbar by members of the Warkari Sampradaya and seekers of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti that the play ‘Iththala’ is being planned to be staged again at various places. In response, the Guardian Minister stated, “If attempts are being made to stage the play despite the ban, such defiance will not be tolerated. Legal action will be taken if the play is performed. This is my stand as a Hindu. I stand with you.”

On this occasion, H.B.P. Manohar (alias Dada) Randive, Tulshiram More, Vishnu Lanjekar, Darshan Agre, Govind Chavan from the Warkari Sampradaya of Lanja taluka, along with Amitraj Khatavkar, Bhairulal Bhandari, Govind Bhardwaj, and Sanjay Joshi of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti were present. The stand taken by the Guardian Minister has been welcomed by Warkaris and Vitthal devotees

What is shown in the play ‘Iththala’?

1. The play depicts a couple, deeply engrossed in devotion to Shri Vitthal, committing the murder of 10 people out of greed for money. This is completely against Warkari philosophy.
2. The characters in the play are given the names of saints such as ‘Tuka’, ‘Janai’, and ‘Nama’, which amounts to disrespect.
3. It portrays the husband (Tuka) killing guests on the insistence of his wife, and the wife killing her own child, which is highly objectionable.

March 8, 2026

• Minister Uday Samant intervenes following complaint by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

• Producers issue written apology

Mumbai / Ratnagiri – The performance of the controversial Marathi play ‘Iiththala’, which insulted the Warkari Sampradaya, the tradition of Saints, and devotion to Bhagwan Shri Vitthal, has been stopped with immediate effect.

Maharashtra’s Minister for Industries and Marathi Language, Shri. Uday Samant intervened in the matter, strictly reprimanded the play’s producers, and ordered them to change the play’s name, characters, and its subject matter. 

How the controversy unfolded

During the 64th Maharashtra Rajya Haushi Marathi Natya Spardha 2025-26, held in Ratnagiri, the play ‘Iththala’ was staged by ‘Amol Rangayatri’ (Lanja). In this play, Warkari devotees were portrayed as ‘murderers’, which sparked massive outrage in Hindu society and the Warkari Sampradaya. 

State organiser Sunil Ghanwat, along with Satish Sonar and Ravi Nalawade from the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, met Minister Uday Samant in Mumbai and submitted a memorandum.

Considering the seriousness of the issue, Minister Samant immediately called the producers and instructed them to stop this denigration of God and Saints. He clearly stated that characters named after Saints should be removed and the theme defaming the Sampradaya should be changed.

Producers seek written apology

Following the minister’s stern stance, the producing organisation ‘Veershaiva Samaj, Lanja’ submitted a written letter stating, “Respecting the objections raised by the Warkari Sampraday and the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, we are currently halting this play. The next performance will only take place after the necessary changes have been made.”

Some objectionable portions of the play

• The play shows a couple devoted to Shri Vitthal murdering ten innocent guests.
• It shows disrespect towards Saints by naming characters ‘Tuka’, ‘Jana’, and ‘Nama’ and portraying them as criminals.
• In one scene, a mother (Jana) is shown murdering her own son (Nama) while immersed in devotion, which is a complete insult to Warkari ideology. 

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti expressed gratitude to Minister Uday Samant, who understood the sentiments of the Warkari community and took prompt action.

Warkaris demand ban on Marathi play ‘Iththala’ for mocking devotion

March 2, 2026

Ratnagiri, Maharashtra – The Warkari Sampradaya, Lanja, submitted a memorandum to District Collector Manuj Goyal, addressed to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Cultural Minister, and Guardian Minister, demanding a ban on the play titled ‘Iththala’. The memorandum warned that if the government does not take prompt action against this play, an intense agitation will be launched across the state. The Warkari Sampradaya alleges that the play portrays devotion  as superstition and irrationality. 

The play was performed in the 64th Maharashtra Rajya Haushi Marathi Natya Spardha (2025-26). It secured second prize in the preliminary round and has been selected for the final round. The play is produced by Jaiprakash Pakhare, written and directed by Amol Redij, and staged by ‘Veershaiv Samaj, Lanja’. 

Major objections to the play

• Lack of Evidence: Although the play is claimed to be based on events from 400 years ago, there is no historical or scriptural evidence to support it.
• Contradictory Portrayal: It depicts a couple, deeply immersed in the devotion of Shri Vitthal, murdering 10 people out of greed for money, an act that directly contradicts Warkari philosophy.
• Insult to Saints: Characters have been given the names of revered saints such as ‘Tuka’, ‘Janai’, and ‘Nama’, which is considered an insult to their legacy.
• Disturbing Content: The portrayal of a husband murdering guests at his wife’s behest, and a mother killing her own son, has been described as highly offensive.

Demand to exclude from the final round

The memorandum demands that this play be removed from the final round of the state drama competition and that no awards be conferred upon it. It also calls for legal action against the writer, director, and producer, as well as the issuance of strict guidelines to prevent future mockery or distortion of Hindu religion, saints, and national icons.

The memorandum was presented in the presence of H.B.P. Manohar Randive, Tulshiram More, Vishnu Lanjekar, Darshan Agre, Govind Chavan, Pandurang Shinde, Manohar Karambele, Kishor Lanjekar, Bhikaji Lanjekar, and others.