Salim Mullah & Aditi Arya’s Play: Ashanti Mullah

Playwrights: Salim Husan Mullah & Aditi Arya
Director: Mayengbam Sunil Singh
Group: NSD Student Diploma Production, New Delhi
Language: Hindi
Duration: 1 hr

The Play
This play begins with a series of family crises. All the members of this family are ambitious in their attempts to prove themselves. But living under the same roof, they fail to hold the family together. Each individual wants to take the entire family on his/her own journey. The patriarch of the household has a few expectations from his children but the children have different dreams. The play can be seen as a tussle between individual dreams and familial realities. As the play progresses, we find echoes of an entire nation in this household with each representative putting forward the problems concerning his field of interest. The social, political and economic aspects of the country are reflected in the bizarre yet relatable circumstances that one family encounters. All the relationships, ambitions and socio-political issues in this play have a satirical undercurrent.

Director’s Note
In our society, one doesn’t always appreciate individual endeavour. Each of us has his/her own story. What role does family play in this story of ours? What role does the government play in this story of ours? Do people with government jobs need to depend solely on the government? Do people with no jobs need to depend solely on their families? Is the development of a state only its government’s responsibility? I believe it’s every individual’s prerogative to work for his/her own well-being while contributing to the family as well as the state’s welfare. These scenarios make the premise of our play. With family crisis at its centre, it is a mini parliament in itself!

The Director
Mayengbam Sunil Singh is a graduate of 2019 with specialization in Direction from National School of Drama. In Manipur, he worked as an artist in the group Yumjao Lairembi Dramatic and Cultural Union, and Kangleipak Lamyanba theatre. He has also completed a three-year course of Manipuri classical dance and folk dance. Now he is working as an artist in T.I.E Company at NSD.

The Playwrights
The play has been co-written by Salim Mulla and Aditi Arya.
Salim Mulla is from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He graduated in political science and then completed his diploma with acting as specialization, from National School of Drama (2016-2019)
Aditi Arya is from Haryana. She did her graduation and masters in commerce, and completed her diploma with acting as specialisation from National School of Drama (2016-2019)
Aditi and Salim are conducting a series of workshops with the theme ‘Understanding Theatre’, in different parts of India.

The Group
This play is a part of National School of Drama’s graduate showcase of class 2019. It aims to provide a platform to encourage emerging theatre practitioners to share their work with a wider audience.

Cast & Credits
On Stage Jitu Rabha, Aditi Arya, Manoj Kumar Thapar, Sayan Sakar,
Pallav singh, Somnath, Salim Husan Mullah, Bhumisuta Das

Light Sejuti Bagchi
Music Vetri Boopathy
Costume Ashwini Joshi
Property Aditi Arya, Somnath
Choreography Gujan Shukla
Script-writing Salim Husan Mullah, Aditi Arya
Special thanks Aditi Arora

Playwrights Salim Husan Mullah & Aditi Arya
Concept, Design
& Direction Mayengbam Sunil Singh

Contacts
Mayengban Sunil Singh
M: +91 9774209861
E: mayengbam1234@gmail.com