Mahesh Dattani ist ein gefeierter indischer Dramatiker, dessen Werke sich mit komplexen sozialen und psychologischen Themen auseinandersetzen. Seine Stücke erforschen oft die Spannungen zwischen Tradition und Moderne und legen die inneren Konflikte innerhalb der indischen Gesellschaft offen. Dattanis Schreiben zeichnet sich durch treffende Dialoge und tiefgründige Einblicke in die menschliche Psyche aus. Als erster englischsprachiger Dramatiker, der den Sahitya Akademi Award erhielt, ist sein Beitrag zur Literatur bedeutend.
Mahesh Dattani is the first Indian-playwright writing in English to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi award. His plays bring Indian drama into the present day in their themes "sexuality, religious tension and gender issues" while still focussing on human relationships and personal and moral choices which are the classic concerns of world drama.
Set against the backdrop of a dance festival, the narrative explores the complex dynamics between aging Bharatnatyam dancers Jairaj and Ratna as they seek a mridangam player for their daughter Lata's performance. Tensions rise during a pivotal meeting with Lata's potential fiancé, Viswas, revealing deep-rooted conflicts from Jairaj and Ratna's past. The story delves into themes of tradition versus modernity, parental expectations, and personal aspirations, offering a poignant examination of relationships and the struggles of balancing ambition with familial ties.