Hrishikesh Sulabh is a Hindi writer, known for his plays and novels. He is the recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2019), among various other awards. He is also known for writing short stories and plays in ‘Bideshiya Shaili.’ His famous plays are Amli, Batohi, Daaliya  (based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore), Maila Aanchal (aadaptation of a novel by Phanishwar Nath ‘Renu’), to name a few.

Director:

Sushant Nayak is a Goa-based theatre practitioner, playwright, director, and production designer. A postgraduate in Konkani, he has been actively engaged in theatre for many years and currently serves as Theatre Manager of Kala Academy Goa and Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Ponda, while also holding additional charge as Chief of Repertory, Rangamel, Kala Academy. As a writer, he has authored eight original plays, including Home Minister, Dhiryo, and A Purn Love Story, and has adapted or translated around eighteen plays such as Friend Request and Selfie. He has directed many plays like Namana Natavara, Fakt 24 Taas, and Dharti Aaba. He has also designed lights and sets for major productions, including Do Duni Chaar and Vande Mataram.

Director’s Note

Staging Dharti Aaba has been a meaningful journey for me. Birsa Munda’s life is full of courage, pain, and hope, and I wanted this play to capture the spirit of his struggle. He fought not only against the British, but also against fear, injustice, and the loss of identity in his own community. While working on this play, I realised that Birsa’s story is not just about the past, but it still speaks to us today. In this production, we have tried to keep the world of the Munda community alive through their music, movement, and everyday simplicity. Nothing is exaggerated; everything comes from the truth of their lives.

Group:

Repertory Company of Kala Academy Goa, Rangamel was formed in 1992. It aims at providing professional experience to the graduates of the School of Drama. It has so far produced 45 plays with more than 1000 shows countrywide in four different languages Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, and English. It has been staging plays in the far flung and remote villages of Goa. Rangamel has also presented its plays at different Theatre Festivals of National Level such as Bharat Rang Mahotsav, New Delhi and National Theatre Festival of Kerala etc.