A new theatre festival in Bengaluru is attempting to bring the works of Vijay Tendulkar to the stage through crisp, 25-minute devised performances led by emerging directors at Vyoma Art and Space.
Curated by Ranji David
Curated by theatre practitioner Ranji David, the initiative creates a platform for new voices to interpret a literary giant in their own way. The 25-minute format wasn't just a stylistic choice—it stemmed from observing audience behaviour.
"From an audience perspective, I realised we should compress it," Ranji says. "Make it 25 minutes each." The aim is to hold attention without diluting depth. Instead of conventional intervals, a narrator bridges the performances.
"It's not really a break—the narrator takes the audience through Tendulkar—his motivations, his writing—and sets the premise for the next play," he explains.
A Three-Way Exchange on Stage
For Ranji, the festival functions as a three-way exchange. "The idea is to introduce the works of Tendulkar to a new set of directors, actors and audiences. The intent is not just to stage plays, but to build familiarity with a playwright whose themes remain relevant even today. We want younger audiences to come and understand him as a writer," he says.
The Play Lineup
- Director: Anwesha Anand Play: Kamala
- Director: Varun Sarma Play: A Friends Story
- Director: Ashwini Krishana Play: Silence! The Court is in Session
- Director: Samkith Play: The Cyclist
- Director: Luvena Rangel Play: Vultures
