India, Dec. 20 -- Actor Pratik Gandhi set the tone for the performing arts festival Repertwahr with a power-packed solo performance of the play Mohan Ka Masala. Held at Janeshwar Misra Park, the play, directed by Manoj Shah and written by Ishan Doshi, captivated the audience for 90 minutes as the actor delivered a masterclass, later earning a standing ovation from the packed crowd. The actor tells HT City, "The play is extremely close to my heart. I have been performing this play for 10 years now, and yet every single time I step on stage, it teaches me something new. What makes it special is that it doesn't try to glorify (Mahatma) Gandhi as a statue or an icon - it looks at him as a human being. A young man full of doubts, fears, curiosity, and contradictions." Pratik seamlessly wove Hindi, English, and a bit of Gujarati together with an evocative background score, transporting the audience through Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's journey from a young man to the making of the Mahatma. His use of costume was equally effective throughout the narrative. On his city connect, he says, "Lucknow has a very special place in my journey, both personally and professionally. The city holds strong theatre memories for me as well. I first performed here at the Repertwahr Festival in 2015 with my play Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon." After the performance, the actor was seen relishing a choice of delicacies at the variety of stalls in the festival's gastronomy section and later strolled through the artisanal bazaar. Earlier, the festival opened with a traditional brass band performance, followed by a classical music treat by sitarist Chandulal Kalburgi. The final performance of the day was delivered by Sufi singer Deveshi Sahgal. The fest was formally inaugurated by Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh and Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat....