A faint memory of this writer’s great-grandmother churning out some never-heard-before songs while casually sitting on the balcony on a lazy afternoon comes to mind as we speak to Dhanashree Lele. “These poems are called ovi. They were composed and sung on the spot by women during their daily routine consisting of household chores,” the orator, author, scriptwriter and a multilingual compère says. 

Although this poetry form has long been buried by generations, Lele is making an honest effort to bring it back through her shows that celebrate this form of poetry. With Marathi Language Day coming up on February 27, Lele will be performing Ovi Ovi Gumphali: Celebrating Marathi Language Day, an experimental theatre performance at the NCPA today.