Dear Omana - Play by the Madras Players and Chennai Art Theatre Production

Watched Krishna's play 'Dear Omana - How to be a Literary Sensation' staged by the Madras Players and Chennai Art Theatre yesterday (I have been wanting to watch it for a long time - even planned to go to Chennai or Bangalore if they were playing there). In fact they have two shows going - yesterday and today! Krishna and Chitra came with the group - Nikhila Kesavan and Sarwesh who played the roles of Krishna as the aspiring literary sensation and Omana as the established author who is mentoring him on the way to become a lit sen. Charles and Sandhya were there to help them (and did a damn good job). Another interest I had in this play was that Taher was presenting the show.

I met Krishna and Chitra at their hotel in Hitech at 5ish and we drove down to Rangabhoomi. Now Google takes you to the backside of the venue so one is better off searching for Hyderama Cafe which is the entrance to Rangabhoomi now. I parked and met the actors and chatted with K and C. Krishna's English teacher Mrs Chatterjee came to watch the play with her family. I stepped out to explore the area, met Vinod Pavarala and Aparna, Sadhana, Taher. Shobha, Anjali and Sagar came. We all caught up over tea and samosas and then went in to find ourselves some good seats - and parked ourselves in the front row.

Nikhila and Sarwesh

The play was hilarious - haven't laughed so much in years. Sarwesh begins with a letter or email he sends to well-established author Omana whose works are bestsellers and have been translated into many languages. He asks her for guidance and she gives him tips - on how to become a lit sensation by shifting from fiction to non-fiction - and how to get big advances, how to get books translated (from English back to English), how to deal with absent editors, with the watchmen at the publishing house, the 20 something marketing exec on facebook, how to patao the editor by doing the son's homework and sweeping her house, how to do the book launch, how to get nominated for awards (Padma awards), how to handle royalties, who to blame for not being a success (wife and kids) and so on. It was so funny that I had to tone down my laughter for my own health - really!

Krishna and Chitra (to the right)

Taher

Eshwar, Taher and Sagar

Nikhila and Sarwesh were exceptionally good. The moves, the steps, Nikhila jumping up on to the stool (will her shoe get stuck in that) - everything was perfect. Such a lovely performance! Anjali, Shobha and Sagar thoroughly enjoyed it and so did everyone else by the laughter I heard. Outside I met Sheel and her friend Vidya - and then we shifted to the cafe for a bite. Krishna and Chitra were going out to dinner with the others but it would get too late for us so we excused ourselves in favour of a quick snack. Taher joined us.

After play

An evening well spent. Superb stuff. I wish it were on YouTube so I could watch it whenever I feel like a laugh - it guarantees a laugh every two minutes. Will i watch it again next time? Surely will. It's like 'Adrak ke Panje' in English with many dialogues and scenarios that pop into your head every now and then.