If theatre is your calling, then this event will surely interest you. From Shakespeare to Dario Fo, this year’s Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) festival will see far more variety than usual. META, which is out with its jury panel and nominees for its 9th edition, has received 300 entries this year from all over the country. The selection committee has chosen the eight best productions out of these entries, nominated across 13 categories. The plays will be screened from March 4 – 8 at different venues, while the awards function will be held on March 9.
Faraz Khan, whose play, The Open Couple, has also been shortlisted, is kicked about his entry to the awards for the first time. "My play is on Dario Fo’s work. It’s a satire on relationships. I’m glad it got appreciation. My awareness of these awards is pretty recent. There is no Bollywood glamour to it. It’s meant for theatre and it’s great," says the director.
Talking about the popularity of these awards, Ravi Dubey, the creative director, says, "It’s enthralling to be a part of META’s journey. It is looking for the best talent across the nation in theatre. It is known across the country in the theatre community and it is clearly visible from the number of entries that we receive every year."
The jury list includes Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Shabana Azmi, Shyam Benegal, Swati Bhise and Utkarsh Mazumdar, who will be choosing the winners from plays such as Lillete Dubey’s 9 Parts of Desire and Praveen Kumar Gunjan’s Gabarghichor.
Talking about the popularity of these awards, Ravi Dubey, the creative director, says, "It’s enthralling to be a part of META’s journey. It is looking for the best talent across the nation in theatre. It is known across the country in the theatre community and it is clearly visible from the number of entries that we receive every year."
The jury list includes Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Shabana Azmi, Shyam Benegal, Swati Bhise and Utkarsh Mazumdar, who will be choosing the winners from plays such as Lillete Dubey’s 9 Parts of Desire and Praveen Kumar Gunjan’s Gabarghichor.