Drama time: An excellent calendar of plays
Editor’s note: Weddings, mental health, fascism, the ‘Mahabharata’, and political protests—all take centre stage—in these ten plays recommended by theatre maven Prachi Sibal. Take a break from the screens and watch dramas IRL in English, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada and more—at a venue near you. FYI: This is a calendar for August and September.
Written By: Prachi Sibal is a journalist based in Mumbai with over 16 years of experience. She writes on culture and the performing arts—while theatre is her first love. Her work has appeared in several publications including Mint Lounge, Open Magazine, VICE, Scroll, Hindustan Times, and The Morning Context.
Little can compare to the joy of watching a live performance and the magic of storytelling on stage. Here’s a selection of 10 contemporary Indian plays to watch at venues across the country over the next few weeks:
Dekh Behen Part Two
Mumbai-based Akvarious Productions’ ‘Dekh Behen’ was a laugh riot and has been staged over 100 times nationwide. The sequel, set five years after the original, is funnier and more in tune with our times. It tells the story of four women friends at yet another dream wedding. There are ugly bridesmaids' dresses like in the earlier play, banter, and a life-changing event or two. ‘Dekh Behen Part Two’ is an entertainer all through.
Prachi’s take: The two writers—Dilshad Ebidam Khurana and Tahira Nath Krishnan—and directors—Shikha Talsania and Prerna Chawla—are friends and it is their real-life sisterhood that takes the show many notches higher.
Where to watch it: On August 1 at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai. Tickets here.
Love & Information
Written by British playwright Caryl Churchill, and directed by Mohit Takalkar of Pune-based Aasakta Kalamanch, this play comprises 50 disparate scenes, divided into sections, that mirror the short attention spans of the age of social media. The text reimagines the grammar of a play and Takalkar elevates it by infusing new context in its dramaturgy bound by design. A theme or emotion binds each section and features some powerful performances.
Prachi’s take: It’s a novel experience like nothing you’ve watched before. The experiments don’t compromise on craft. ‘Love & Information’ is as moving as it is entertaining.
Where to watch it: On August 2, 3 and 4 at Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai. Tickets here.
I Killed My Mother/ It Wasn’t My Fault
Mallika Shah’s debut work as a writer and director is a refreshing Gen Z take in an otherwise Millennial theatre landscape. It tells the story of a 25-year-old woman’s life starting with a particularly turbulent day. It touches upon her inner world, her social interactions, and by extension, the ramifications on society. It is peppered with pop culture references—and music—and features some memorable performances.
Prachi’s take: ‘I Killed My Mother/ It Wasn’t My Fault’ seems frivolous at first, but emerges as a winning piece that is sure of its craft with a rare newness.
Where to watch it: On August 2 at The Box, Pune. Tickets here.
Karamjale Brothers
Collaborators and actors, Rajat Kapoor and Vinay Pathak, are back with a new play after nearly a decade. Based on Dostovesky’s ‘The Brothers Karamazov’, Cinematograph’s ‘Karamjale Brothers’ is adapted for the Indian audience. Karamjot is known for his debauchery, and his three sons are driven by their passions. There is a murder and an obvious suspect.
Prachi’s take: ‘Karamjale Brothers’ has a great line-up of talented actors including Ipshita Chakraborty Singh, Saurabh Nayyar, and Girish Sharma, with Pathak himself.
Where to watch it: On August 2 and 3 at St Andrews Auditorium, Mumbai, and from August 6 to 11 at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai. Tickets here.
Every Brilliant Thing
Mumbai-based QTP’s play—a production company helmed by Quasar Thakore Padamsee—‘Every Brilliant Thing’, has been performed in more than 15 cities and has had over 100 shows. It is now in its final run of shows. Written by Duncan Macmillan with Johnny Donahoe, it focuses on mental health through the story of a young boy. Performed as a solo piece by ace actor Vivek Madan, it is interactive—and audience members double up as characters. It is a raw, tender tale with no sets and hardly any stage lights.
Prachi’s take: ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ will make you laugh, cry, and leave you with a lump in your throat. It will make you want to stop and smell the flowers on the way home.
Where to watch it: On August 3 at Harkat Studios, Mumbai. Tickets here. You can also catch it on August 4, Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai. Tickets on the Agatsu Foundation website.
Firefly Women
This powerful piece designed and directed by Delhi-based Manjari Kaul uses letters of protest from imprisoned activists for physical theatre. Performed by Kaul and Priiya Pithora, it explores the concept of feminist utopia in the backdrop of draconian laws and the anti-CAA/NRC protests. Sound (designed by playwright/director Neel Chaudhuri) and a tactile installation enable the audience to interact with the source material. ‘Firefly Women’ is at times grim, but also poetic and hopeful.
Prachi’s take: The performance draws you into its world slowly but effectively, through dramatic devices urging you to imagine both the confines of prison walls and the freedom on the other side.
Where to watch it: On the August 15 weekend at Conflictorium, Raipur. Follow them on Instagram to stay updated on tickets.
Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta
Based on Sam Steiner’s ‘Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons’, Aasakta Kalamanch’s Marathi play ‘Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta’ tells a deeply political tale through the eyes of a young couple. In a fascist regime, a new rule is passed where citizens are forbidden from speaking more than 140 words in a day. In a non-linear timeline, director Mohit Takalkar uses silence and dialogue alternatively, to paint a searing picture of a dystopian society.
Prachi’s take: Mallika Singh Hanspal won a META (Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards) for Best Female Actor for her performance in the play. Ghanta’s inventive design in the form of a cloud hanging overhead synced with lights is a spectacle to watch.
Where to watch it: On August 18 at The Box, Pune. Tickets here.
Kaumudi
Abhishek Majumdar, noted playwright and director, is bringing back his acclaimed Hindi-language play to the stage after a five-year hiatus. ‘Kaumudi’ draws from the ‘Mahabharata’, exploring the relationship between Eklavya and Abhimanyu. Within this premise, it offers commentary on caste discrimination and the function of art in society.
Prachi’s take: ‘Kaumudi’ is a layered and heart-wrenching play with career-best performances by Kumud Mishra and Gopal Dutt.
Where to watch it: On August 20, 21 and 22 at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai and on September 4 at Rangshila Theatre, Mumbai. Tickets here.
Black Hole
Acclaimed artist Jyoti Dogra’s award-winning piece ‘Black Hole’ is back in performance. Dogra—who often works solo—is fascinated with personal narratives and their place in the world. Here, she uses her body and a white sheet in a narrative that draws from astrophysics and intertwines them with themes of love, mortality, and knowledge.
Prachi’s take: Dogra’s work is universal and introspective, and can still feel deeply personal. She’s a master of her craft and will make you rethink the tenets of performance arts.
Where to watch it: On August 28 and 29 at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai. Tickets here.
Urmila
From the Auroville-based Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Arts Research, comes ‘Urmila’, written and directed by Nimmy Raphel. It tells the protagonist's tale centred around a single event in mythology, where Lakshmana commands that Urmila sleep on his behalf. It delves into the concepts of consent, bodily agency, and resistance through the metaphor of sleep. Meedhu Miriyam, Suraj S, and Vinay Kumar make up the cast. The play is in English—with a smattering of Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil.
Prachi’s take: ‘Urmila’ uses elements of Kalaripayattu and Adishakti’s signature rhythmic practice. The lighting and choreography are a visual delight while the original background score makes the struggle with sleep palpable for the audience.
Where to watch it: On September 8 at KACV, Trivandrum, on September 12 at School of Drama, Thrissur, on September 16 at St Aloysius College, Mangalore, on September 18 at Ninasam, Heggodu, and on September 20 and 21 at Ranga Shankara, Bangalore. Follow them on Instagram to stay updated on tickets.
