Shorts Circuit
A Festival of Short Plays
New Works, New Directors, Short Plays
Sep 4-14, 2025
Pear Theatre
CIRCUIT A
The Throne with No Caste
Written by Priya Iyer
Directed by Divya Balu
An old commode, a silent garbage collector, and an American-returned daughter ignite a debate on caste, respect, and systemic blind spots in urban India. As social media goes viral, quiet discrimination takes center stage.
A biting satire that begins with bathroom humor — and flushes out much more.
Flat No. 36
Written by Madhuri Purandare
Directed by Shekhar Sakhalkar
A soldier arrives to defend an apartment from an impending attack — but its residents insist there must be some mistake. As absurdity escalates and reality blurs, the price of silence and anonymity comes due.
A darkly comic portrayal of how society unravels when law and order are just a façade and even staying under the radar doesn’t guarantee your safety.
प्रस्ताव (Prastaav)
Written by Basab Pradhan
Directed by Nitin Deo
A comedic riff on Chekhov’s The Proposal, this Hindi play follows Lallan Prasad as he brings a marriage proposal — only to end up in a chaotic spat over a parking spot. Sparks fly, tempers flare and twitchy nerves take center stage in this hilarious suburban showdown.
A modern Indian twist on mistaken intentions and matrimonial mayhem. Hindi, no supertitles.
CIRCUIT B
Meenu Alias Meenakshi
Written by Swaminathan Ganesan
Directed by Ram Rajagopalan
A failed lentil dish sparks a culinary crisis, leading Meenu on a soul-searching journey through tradition, love, and identity — guided by a ghostly grandmother-chef. Blending modern angst with ancestral wisdom, this is a warm, funny tale of making a bond over cooking.
Cooking becomes a portal to healing, heritage and unexpected grace.
Art of the Possible
Written by Reena Kapoor
Directed by Vandana Ramakrishnan
Simmi wants out of her marriage — and she’s got a plan. A slightly unconventional one, that involves turning her in-laws’ fear of public shame to her advantage.
In this sharp comedy of manners, two families gather over high tea — where generational tensions simmer, social facades crack, and the cucumber sandwiches are perfectly cut. A brisk, witty take on how important appearances can be to some — and the art of the deal in your marriage.
Detour
Written by Basab Pradhan
Directed by Aditi Honawar
When two women share an Uber in Delhi, an everyday ride spirals into a chilling power play between entitlement, justice and truth. A cab driver’s fate hangs in the balance as a woman weaponizes systems meant to protect her.
A sharp, unsettling satire on class, gender and how stories get rewritten.