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.