Watch the drama

What to expect from this year’s Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards

Diversity on display: A scene from “Chandala, Impure”

Many springs ago, as a student of the National School of Drama, Swati Dubey, the young director from Jabalpur, would attend the META (Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards). “For us, it was theatre for the elite. So I was surprised when this year, our play, Agarbatti, (Hindi) was selected from 400-odd entries,” she says. Set against the Behmai massacre, it talks of patriarchy in Indian society.

She’s not the only one excited. Director Dhwani Vij is equally thrilled to know that her production, Bhagi Huyi Ladkiyaan, (Hindi) that she does with the girls of Nizamuddin Basti in Delhi has made it to the final nine. “It opens space for young, original writing. The play talks of gender and identity in a contemporary context.”

Meta gala

In its 14th year now, META has a diverse line-up, with plays from across the country competing for the top honour in different categories. Veteran theatre and film personality Denzil Smith, member of the selection committee, is pleasantly surprised by the entries this year. “There is an exploration of form, content and the Indian folk idiom. From gender issues to deconstruction of the classics, the quality of theatre that is coming from states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Manipur is excellent.”

“Bhagi Hui Ladkiyaan”

Apart from a balance between content, form, and technique, Smith says the selection process kept in mind the contemporary socio-political reality. “Theatre mirrors what is going on in society. And plays like

Bhagi Hui Ladkiyan;

Loose Woman; and

Chandala, Impure do just that. The primary concern of theatre is to entertain but if it has a message somewhere in its layers, it’s fantastic.”

On selecting two adaptations of Dharamvir Bharti’s Andha Yug, in Gujarati and Hindi, in the same year, Smith says that each group has given a new interpretation to the play.

Jury duty

With so many theatre practitioners experimenting with form, the festival has a robust jury to look deep at productions. Sunil Kothari, the veteran dance critic, for instance, will keep an eye on the assimilation of dance in theatre. “'Dance is an important element of theatre. Directors like RatanThiyam and K N Panicker have resorted to its use to enhance the impact, using dance metaphorically, minus complex hand gestures or facial expressions, which helps the narrative flow smoothly and dramatically. Often folk dances are also used with the same intent,” says Kothari.

Teamworks Arts produces many festivals through the year but Sanjoy Roy, Festival Producer, says a theatre festival is a different thrill altogether. “Theatre festivals are quite different as they involve sets, props, set up, rehearsals and more. The effort is to provide the best possible platforms so that the production can be staged in ideal circumstances. Last year, a play required a football pitch as setting, which we had to recreate at some cost. Nona required an entire set built like a see-saw. The challenges are many but the excitement of seeing a great production and brilliant performances is exceptional.”

Four hundred entries for one festival suggest that theatre is thriving in the country. Smith laughs. “It is not thriving. It is just that some talented people are sustaining it despite the financial constraints. My understanding is there is light at the end of the tunnel. And it is a bright light.”

(META will be held from March 6-11 at Kamani Auditorium and Shri Ram Centre. Tickets at metaawards.com, bookmyshow.com)