A scene from the play Moogetu.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
A young theatre troupe, Fourth Wall Theatre, is set to present its recent play Moogetu at Ranga Shankara, on Friday.
Opened in January, written by Ravikiran Rajendran, the play is designed and directed by Sidhaartha Maadhyamika. The synopsis of the play reads that Moogetu revolves around the journey of two characters, Roopa and Divya, who are separated by time, space, and worlds but bound by their shared experiences of oppression and violence in a casteist society.
The play showcases the life of Roopa, who teaches English at a reputed college and is caught up in the conundrum of dealing with the caste identity in her workspace, personal relationships, and her neighbourhood. What her father tried to protect them from when he was alive has come to haunt her, and she is faced with making choices that could determine her survival and life ahead if she makes it.
Meanwhile, Divya is chased by the characters from an unfinished play who were unhappy with the way the play was shaping up and have killed the playwright to prevent him from completing it. Divya, in her efforts to survive and hoping that her stories survive, shares light on the oppressive structures of caste in academic institutions.
A scene from the play Moogetu.
| Photo Credit:
special arrangement
Speaking to The Hindu, director Sidhaartha Maadhyamika said that the play focuses on education and self-respect, which have become two important tools for survival today. “For years, caste, class and gender discrimination have been normalised in our society. This play questions why these discriminations have been accepted in our daily lives. Moogetu is a mixture of dreams, imagination and truth, which is also the strength of the play. The performers and audience will experience a new reflection of the lives we are living,” he explained.
The director said that designing a play was a challenge. “A play is usually rehearsed for a month or more and performed, but this play needed close to six months. The scriptwriter and I worked and re-wrote the script multiple times, and every actor was involved throughout the process. The entire process was a revelation of ourselves, and we have enjoyed the process to the fullest,” Sidhaartha added. The director said that the troupe is focusing on showcasing the play at educational institutions in the coming days.
Tickets for the shows, at 7.30 p.m., are available at the Ranga Shankara box-office and on BookMyShow.
Published – March 07, 2025 06:39 am IST
