7 popular contemporary Indian plays you must watch

Theatre is a vibrant and influential art form that brings stories to life on the stage. It is a collaborative effort among actors, directors, writers and designers to convey stories, emotions, and concepts to a live audience. Plays encompass a wide range of genres, themes and artistic approaches and many theatre artists receive great admiration from people. From profound dramas to light-hearted comedies, a good artist manages to pull it all off. These cultural mediums reflect the intricacies of society, offering a platform for artistic exploration, entertainment, education as well as emotional engagement.
Here we list seven contemporary Indian plays, ranging from humour to patriotic, that you must watch.

The humorous play, 'Ghalib in New Delhi', looks at the changing scenarios and atmosphere of the National capital. Written by M. Sayeed Alam, the play revolves around the 19th-century Urdu and Persian poet Mirza Ghalib. It imagines Ghalib's return to the city and his interactions with people from different walks of life. The play explores the timeless relevance of Ghalib's poetry, showcasing his wit and wisdom while drawing parallels between his era and modern society. It combines humor, nostalgia and commentary on the enduring impact of Ghalib's work and how he too changes with time to fit in the capital.

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Written by actor, playwright and poet Piyush Mishra, ‘Gagan Damama Bajyo’, portrays the remarkable life of one of India's revered freedom fighter and revolutionary, Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The play conveys deep-seated sentiments of India's struggle for independence and pivotal moments in Singh’s life. Starting from early exposure to revolutionary ideals as a child to his intellectual journey at Lahore's National College and his life events eventually culminating in his execution by hanging. The play offers a youthful perspective on India's fight for freedom.

The play unfolds as a play-within-a-play, with a theater troupe making an impromptu stop in a village. In the absence of one cast member, another is called upon to stand in as a replacement. The situation leads to an impromptu and unscripted ‘rehearsal,’ during which the group stages a mock trial to familiarize the new person with courtroom procedures. Initially, the trial is meant to be a playful enactment, with a fabricated charge of infanticide directed at Miss Benare, however, the make-believe takes a serious turn when the trial reveals that Miss Benare is pregnant with a child conceived from her past and failed illicit relationship with Professor Damle, the missing cast member.

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Written by theatre writer and director, Manav Kaul, 'Chuhal' is one of the artist’s best works. 'Chuhal' is a light romantic comedy, featuring Aarti and Sudhir, two people who meet in an arranged marriage setup. While Aarti is an independent, free-minded girl, averse to the institution of marriage, Sudhir is the type who’d like to fall in love and settle down.
The play revolves around the two characters, their meetings ahead, and their path toward self-discovery in a society bent on following rules and norms.

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Written by Dharmvir Bharti, ‘Andha Yug’ is a play based on the 'Mahabharata'. It depicts the devastating final day of the great war, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The survivors are filled with anger and blame each other, even as the destructive Brahmastra is unleashed. Lord Krishna, a moral figure, tries to guide them toward ethical choices. The play highlights the erosion of ethics and ends with Shri Krishna's death.

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Written by Mohan Rakesh, the play features the gifted poet Kalidas falling into an unconventional romance with his muse, Mallika. Tempted by an offer to become the court poet at Ujjayini's royal palace, he eventually leaves, convinced by Mallika's encouragement. While he promises to bring her with him eventually, years pass before he returns. Now a broken man seeking to reconnect with his past, he realizes that time has slipped away. The play masterfully blends an enduring love story with a modern reinterpretation of India's classical poet's life.

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Written by Mrinal Mathur and directed by Dr. M Sayeed Alam, 'Akbar the Great Nahi Rahe' explores the Mughal king trying to get back his title and honour. The different people Akbar meets in Swarg have many different pieces of advice for him. At last, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee tells him to seek help from the media to gain back his stature, Akbar agrees and takes the help of a famous journalist to reclaim the title of 'Akbar the Great'.

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