Off to the Big Apple, Manav Kaul

It definitely is a once in a life-time matter for young director and writer Manav Kaul. He has been invited by the organisers of a world-wide theatre confluence in New York to be held at the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts. “I am the only person from India who has been invited to this major annual event. I will be presenting my play Shakkar ke Paanch Daane (an award-winning play in India) to all the 60 theatre directors who have been invited from the world over,” adds Manav.

Manav’s play has caught the attention of the organisers so much so that a New York- based theatre group has sought rights for his play to make it into an English adaptation. He explains, “While my play is in Hindi, I will be making my presentation in English and will be helped by a New York-based actor. Besides this, a director there has sought rights to my script so that he can make an English version of it.” The theme at the event this year is ‘religion’, and the project will be an intense three week workshop.

Manav admits that it was theatre person Sanjna Kapoor who spoke highly about him when the organisers at the Lincoln Centre called for young talent from India. After scrutinising two of Manav’s scripts — Shakkar… and Ilham, he was finally chosen to represent India.

Manav has also decided to extend his trip after his project at the theatre centre sulminates. In fact, he plans to catch up with at least 30 plays on Broadway and off. He points out, “Lincoln Centre is one of the most important theatre landmarks in New York. It will also be my first trip to New York and I plan to utilise it as a learning process. People say when you go to New York, you change as a person. I want to explore different styles of theatre and see all possible Broadway and experimental plays.”