GUWAHATI, March 11 �Two plays from Assam will feature in the 10th edition of the�Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META)�that will bring together the very best productions from across the country.
The plays from Assam are Dhou� The Wave, directed by Gunakar Dev Goswami and produced by Purvaranga (Guwahati, Lang: Assamese) and Fall of a King- Burha Manuhor Babe Desh Nai, directed by Palash Protim Mech and produced by Oftas (Assam, Lang: Assamese).
The selection committee this year, comprising theatre stalwarts like Anup Hazarika, Deepa Punjani Krishnan, Sajitha Madathil, Sudhir Tandon and Vinod Nagpal have chosen 10 plays from close to 300 entries, celebrating the rich diversity of Indian theatre.
The other plays nominated for META 2015 are: A Straight Proposal; Dir: Happy Ranajit; Produced by Unicorn Actors� Studio (Delhi, Lang: Hindi ), Aaydaan; Dir: Sushma Deshpande; Produced by Awishkar Theatre (Mumbai, Lang: Marathi), Chitrapata; Dir: Manjunath L Badiger; Produced by Samasthi (Bengaluru, Lang: Kannada) Dreams From My Room; Dir: Chingtham Banikanta Singh; Produced by Pan Manipuri Theatre (Manipur, Lang: Manipuri) Kaumudi; Dir: Abhishek Majumdar; Produced by Riad Mahmood Education and Arts Foundation and Indian Ensemble (Bengaluru, Lang: Hindi) Matthi; Dir: Jino Joseph; Produced by Kathuparamba Malayakalanilayam (Kerala, Lang: Malayalam) Rage and Beyond: Irawati�s Gandhari; Dir: Sanjukta Wagh; Produced by Beej (Mumbai, Lang: English) Still and Still Moving; Dir: Neel Chaudhuri; Produced by Tadpole Repertory (Delhi, Lang: English & Hindi)
The shortlisted productions will be staged at LTG Auditorium and Kamani Auditorium in Delhi from March 21 to 26.
This year, META nominees have highlighted issues like that of the LGBT community, concerns of Dalit women, the common man�s woes, problems in conflict zones and economic concerns. The festival also features plays with contemporary interpretations of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, looking through these epics with a fresh perspective.
The nominated plays will be judged across 13 categories. Awards will be given for Best Play, Best Director, Best Stage Design, Best Light Design, Best Innovative Sound Design, Best Costume Design, Best Actor in a Lead Role (Male), Best Actor in a Lead Role (Female), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female), Best Original Script, Best Ensemble, and Best Choreographer. The META 2015 awards night will be held on March 27.