The play 1-888 Dial India is about an emerging entrepreneur who is willing to do anything to make his business work
Outsourcing, call centres, BPOs — these are the words that one relates to with modern India. In fact, this is what inspired playwright and director Anuvab Pal to pen his new play and explore more about the lives of young Indians against this backdrop. The play, 1-888 Dial India will be staged on July 5.
The play is about an emerging entrepreneur who is willing to do anything to make his business work. The protagonist, Arun Gupta, played by Kunaal Roy Kapur, chances upon the recession and the depressed Americans and sets up a helpline for them. He thinks that if everything is outsourced to India, why not help them through this very platform.
According to Pal, “The young middle class is changing. They are becoming independent at an early age and want to stay alone and live life on their own terms.” He says that the protagonist of the play, Arun Gupta, is crass, racist, sexist and “morally bad” — a character that is interesting and has shades that one comes across in life.
Kunaal Roy Kapur, who plays the protagonists’ role says, “I have tried my hand at all types of roles such as that of a jilted brother or a slob, but this particular role excited me and gave me a chance to try something new.” The character he plays is deeply influenced by the West.
“My plays always talk about some kind of sadness, but is told in a comic way. The characters are looking for a meaning in their life,” says Pal, whose other works include directing plays like The president is Coming, Fatwa and writing the screenplay for the film Loins of Punjab Presents. He feels that serious issues don’t necessarily need to be handled in a serious way; it can be made lighter and narrated to people. “What better way to tell a story than make people laugh,” he states.
Pal, whose first play (written and directed by him) was Chaos Theory, says that he just narrates stories in an unbiased way. He says that he loves both the mediums — theatre and films to put across his vision. “When converting a play into a film, one has to start afresh. The information and dialogues need to be made crisper in a movie,” says Pal, who is currently working on a French production called French Class.
The play 1-888 Dial India is produced by ACE Productions. Producer Raell Padamsee says, “I was keen to do something on contemporary India and as Anuvab is excellent when it comes to satire and comedy, we decided to go ahead with this script.” She adds that the play narrates things about the ‘real India’ that one doesn’t know. “It is an interesting and realistic approach towards recession that we are all going through,” she concludes.
The play will premiere on July 5 at St Andrew’s auditorium, St Andrew’s College, St Dominic Road, Bandra (West) at 7.30pm. Contact: 2651 3224
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}