Theatre lovers, we have some news for you and trust us, it’s going to get you super excited. The Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) is back with its 14th year and continues to applaud the finest and the cremé de la cremé of the theatre industry. Founded by the Mahindra Group, META is a confluence of culture, fine arts, and spectacular theatre that is attended by the who’s who of the theatre circle. And this eminent group also includes Bollywood biggies. This year, the 14th edition of META is taking place on the 12th of March, 2019.
Before the D-day, there are 9 plays which have been nominated for the META which you must check out if you are a theater enthusiast. Trust us, there is no better way you would rather spend these pleasant March evening than being in the melting pot of culture.
1. Chillara Samaram
The short play Chillara Samaram raises the protest of common people against anti human town development plans. The play tries to give us a look at the life of people who struggles against corporation authorities and what ensues when local people lose their jobs to big corporations.
Director: Arun Lal
Play time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Laguage: Malyalam
2. Andha Yug
Andha Yug divulges in the prevalent fight between power and survival in the world, and the wrath of the blindage with context to the epic, Mahabharata. It shuffles between the present age and the ancient age where we can see the struggle of power that has been in place since the historic ages.
Director: Dr. Chavan Pramod R.
Play time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Laguage: Gujarati
3. Bhagi Hui Ladkiyan
This play is a must-see for all as it deals with how gender and sexuality play a role in the lives of the four female protagonists. This particular one is also very interesting as it interacts with the audience members who are asked to use radium to populate the
Director: Dhwani Vij
Play time: 1 hour
Language: Hindustani
4. Chandâla, Impure
Chandâla, impure is an adaptation of Romeo & Juliet in Tamil in the context
of the Indian caste system. The way the lower caste society in India is what assumes the utmost importance today. Furthermore, how they are treated under the assumption that they can pollute the pure and excluded from living a normal life are the themes that centre the play.
Director: Koumarane Valavane
Play time: 3 hours
Language: Tamil
5. Kola
Set in the rural area of Vidharbha, the play talks about human psychology. Relationships, aspirations, joys, sorrows, anger, insecurities and many other basic human emotions which any individual can relate to are explored in this play.
Director: Achutha Kumar
Play time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Language: Kannada
6. Loose Women
Loose Woman is an episodic show. Here, the forms of dance, theatre, music and video have been woven together to discover the many ways in which a woman travels and experiences different ‘spaces’, both the personal and the world beyond her personal space. The play also talks about the underlying reference, i.e., the throwaway expression ‘loose woman’, whose application is rampant in a skewed familial and social setting crafted by just one sex.
Director: Maya Krishna Rao
Play time: 1 hour
Language: English
7. Pulijanmam
Pulijanmam is a superb attempt at re-creating the beauty of the classical text that talks about Pulimaranja Thondachan (the great grandfather who turned into a tiger). It tries to take the audience away from the notion that they have about the protagonists Karigurukkal and his love Vellachi and attempts to deconstruct Karigurukkal’s enigma.
Director: Bineesh K
Play time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Language: Malyalam
8. Agarbatti
A heart wrenching story of the protagonist Lala Ram Thakurain, this play is a take on how society sees a widow. Instead of recieving proper rehabilitatipn, she herself is convicted of being a part pf the criminal act. What follows, will keep you hooked to your seats. So do not miss out on this one and book your tickets right away.
Director: Swati Dubey B
Play time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Language: Hindi and Budeli
9. Andha Yug (Hindi)
This play is set in the background of the last day of the Mahabharata war and extends till the last moment of Lord Krishna’s life. It hints that every act of violence that an individual commits not just degrades himself or herself but society as a whole. When society fails to stop an act of revenge and rejects the voice of wisdom what it leads is to wide-scale bloodshed, and this is what the play tries to show.
Director: Joy Maisnam
Play time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Language: Hindi
Book your tickets here.
Price: Rs. 100
All images sourced from TeamworkArts
Featured image source: Feministaa.com
