The Haathi in the Room, a not-for-profit initiative, in collaboration with Prekshaa Art & Culture, presented two powerful English stage plays on 2nd November at the Petersham RSL Club. Both plays were inspired by real-life stories and the stigma surrounding mental health within South Asian communities – shedding light on the struggles, resilience, and hope that define many such journeys.
The Haathi in the Room team comprises seven dynamic and passionate women – Sue Advani, Nitasha Bhatia, Vidhisha Khetwani, Monica Das, Honey Rupani, Meghaa Agrawaal, and Annika Mehroke.
The first play, “I Want to Break Free”, written by Shatdeep Som and directed brilliantly by Suparna Mallick, delved deep into the human yearning for liberation from invisible emotional cages. This powerful story was brought to life by an excellent cast – Asim Das, Shalvi Singh, Kamal Nankani, Alka Belani, Abeer Godbole, Rwik Chatterjee, and Shatdeep Som. The play was gripping, deeply meaningful, and perfectly balanced with moments of humour. Assistant Director was Saurabh Datar.
It was one of the most flawless plays I have seen in a long time – every element was just perfect. Without actors like Asim Das and Shalvi Singh, the play could not have reached such perfection. The audience was moved when Shatdeep Som shared, “I wrote the play while coping with my Baba’s loss. One of the characters resembles him. I’m going on stage in a few minutes wearing Baba’s watch.”
The second play, “Vegemite and Samosas”, directed with great sensitivity by Saral Somaiya and written by Asim Das, explored the intersection of cultural identity and mental well-being in a highly relatable way.
The talented cast included Sarwat Zahra, Atul Sathe, Devashree Bidikar, Etash Ghosliya, and Sue Advani.
Sound was done by Naishadh Somaiya and Light effects were added by Ajay Banerjee. The play portrayed the challenges a migrant family faces while adjusting to life in a new country, particularly how their teenage children experience an identity crisis. It raised thought-provoking questions about cultural assimilation – and whether one can truly learn to enjoy Vegemite with Samosas! The play ended on a lighter note, leaving the audience smiling and reflective.
Special mention to Rushi Dave, Production Manager, for handling the logistics with such professionalism and calm, ensuring the vision became a seamless reality.
The evening concluded with an insightful panel discussion moderated by Vidhisha Khetwani, whose thoughtful questions added depth and relevance to the performances.
Both plays shone a light on mental health issues and reminded us that the key to addressing them lies in open-mindedness, meaningful conversation, and genuine understanding. Well done to The Haathi in the Room team!
The event was supported by – Wayahead, Signature Group of Companies, Lawsworth, Domayne Design Hub, Second Home Cafe, Aussie Property Portfolio, LoanGuru and Dr Vijay Vadali.
Rekha Rajvanshi
