A series of letters are exchanged between Krishna Shastri Devulapalli, a struggling writer, and Omana Banerjee, a successful, bestselling author of several books. Dear Omana, by Madras Players, is a humourous, tongue-in-cheek play on the journey of a writer who undergoes several travails on his quest to get published and become famous.
The play starts with Krishna writing to Omana, an acclaimed author, about the difficulties he faces on writing books. Omana cleverly tells him to write a trilogy and sell the same idea to the publishing house for, it would buy him time and also give him a sure-short contract and royalty. What follows next is a series of exchanges that trace an aspiring writer’s journey — from selling rights to a publishing house, getting the editor to take the book forwards, attending lit-fests, being recognised at them, becoming slightly more famous, being nominated for awards, albeit not too famous…. It goes on.
Directed by Nikhila Kesavan and starring Nikhila herself as Omana, along with V Sarvesh Sridhar, the play by Krishna Shastri Devulapalli is a satire on the publishing industry and the extreme stops that aspiring writers have to pull to get published.
The Hindu Lit for Life 2023 is powered by Life Insurance Corporation of India in association with Ajay Toothbrushes. The Associate Partners are NITTE Education Trust, Hindustan Group of Institutions, State Bank of India, Sai University, and Vivek’s. Jewellery Partner: Joyalukkas. The Mobility Partner is Hyundai, Banking Partner is Indian Bank Realty, the Author Lounge Partner is VFS Global, the Realty Partner is Casagrand, the Knowledge Partner is SSVM Institutions, the Bookstore Partner is Higginbothams, the Gift Partner is Anand Prakash, and the Water Partner is Repute
