On a gloomy night, atop a Mumbai high-rise, a successful female CMO of a unicorn, burdened by a nihilistic outlook, stands on the verge of suicide. Just in time, a taxi driver, scarred by his father’s suicide, intervenes to save her. Her desire to leap into the abyss clashes with his desperate need to preserve his nightly refuge. This serendipitous encounter ignites a humorous, poignant, and profoundly transformative conversation bridging their disparate worlds. As her facade of success crumbles, she reveals past traumas and deep-seated unhappiness, while the taxi driver’s non-judgemental demeanour and profound wisdom provide unexpected solace. Amidst the urban chaos and desolation, on this redemptive rooftop, they find a unique connection in their shared humanity. Will he be able to truly save her, or will she find herself back on the edge?
Writer and Director
Maneesh Verma is a versatile professional with over 25 years of experience as an actor, writer-director and producer. An alumnus of the National School of Drama, he brings a combination of deep artistic knowledge and an entrepreneurial drive to his work.
Maneesh has a prolific theatre background, beginning his acting career in 1996 and performing in over 60 major productions, including works by Tracy Letts, Girish Karnad, and Shakespeare. He expanded his focus over the last 12 years to writing, directing, and producing through Collective Madness Studios, developing more than 15 theatre projects, executing over 250 performances, and participating in India’s premier theatre festivals. His recent notable directorial projects include the comic drama “STUCK” for Shri Ram Centre Repertory and the black comedy “JUMP” commissioned by Serendipity Arts Festival.
Since graduating from NSD in 2002, Maneesh has also worked in the Mumbai film industry, appearing in popular films such as Yodha, Bob Biswas, Gunjan Saxena, and Ajeeb Daastaans. He transitioned to filmmaking more seriously after writing and directing the Zee5 film Shireen Shah in 2018, and has since completed a full-length screenplay titled “JUMP” and co-produced the short film 1924.
Director’s Note
Jump is not just a story – it is an exploration of the profound human need for true connection. The play was born from a personal turning point: in October 2022, I survived a devastating avalanche as a mountaineer – a tragedy that claimed 29 lives. That brush with mortality compelled me to confront essential questions about meaning, mortality, and the value of existence itself. With Jump, I set out to examine the intricate workings of the suicidal mind, crafting a narrative that fuses dark humour and elements of magic realism while always approaching the subject with sensitivity. At its heart, Jump is about the tension between nihilism and existentialism, about what happens when people from profoundly different backgrounds collide and discover, in the chaos, the possibility of common ground and unspoken empathy.
Group
A Mumbai-based, multi-disciplinary studio creating experiences across Theatre, Design & Media, where imagination meets bold storytelling. From intimate experimental works to large-scale productions, our flexible creative vision allows us to shape projects of any scale without compromising impact or artistic integrity. With deep expertise in creative producing, we guide projects end-to-end – from script development to casting, staging, marketing, and touring – ensuring they are not only artistically compelling but also financially sustainable. Signature works such as JUMP , a site-specific black comedy exploring the fragile line between humour and tragedy, and Aao Saathi Sapna Dekhen, a raw, fun musical capturing the intensity of young love, exemplify our commitment to explore contemporary & bold narratives. Developed 20+ projects with 500+ performances across genres, including black comedies, thrillers, musicals, and site-specific performance.