Ghashiram Kotwal was first performed on December 16, 1972. After nineteen brilliant performances, the play was banned. A decision based on the caprice of a handful of Bigots. The playwright Vijay Tendulkar, along with the entire production was attacked for having sullied the image of Nana Phadnavis, cult hero of the Marathas. However, in Tendulkar's words, it is not a historical play, " It is a story in prose, verse, music and dance set in a historical era. Ghashirams are creations of Socio-Political forces with no barriers of time and place.

Although based on a historical legend, I have no intention of commenting on the morals, or lack of them, of the Peshwa, Nana Phadnavis or Ghashiram. The moral of this story, if there is any, may be looked for elsewhere." 'Elsewhere' is in fact a global phenomenon. The Mephistophelian Ghashiram is disturbingly around- feeding on the games of power.