A Wimbledon PhD student returns, after scooping seven gongs at India’s most prestigious red-carpet theatrical award ceremony.
By Heather McKay
A Wimbledon PhD student returns, after scooping seven gongs at India’s most prestigious red-carpet theatrical award ceremony.
Deepan Sivaraman, a research-scholar at Wimbledon College of Art, won awards for Spinal Cord, a play which he directed and designed.
The Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META), held in New Delhi between 2-7 March, is unique in celebrating achievements in Indian theatre.
They are equivalent to the American Tony Awards.
Mr Sivaraman said: “It is fantastic, I’m delighted.”
The META awards are a major event and Mr Sivaraman’s success was featured on Indian CNN (IBN), and in the national press.
Spinal Cord beat 233 entries from all over India, winning Best Play, Best Director, Best Script, Best Set Design, Best Choreography, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Lighting Design.
Keralan-born Mr Sivaraman, was disappointed he had to cut his celebrations short.
He said: “Unfortunately I couldn’t share this with my family as I flew back directly from Delhi – they all live in Kerala, South of India.
“I had a phone call with them and all of them were very, very happy, it was big news in India.”
The play was nominated for 10 out of 13 categories.
The cutting-edge show tackles an honour killing in a Keralan township. When husband San Roman discovers his newly-wed wife, Angela, is no virgin, he abandons her.
Angela’s humiliated brothers seek to avenge their family honour. The violator’s mother narrates a tale of murder and violence.
The play was partly funded by the Wimbledon College of Art. As part of Mr Sivaraman’s PhD, the play looks at spatial identities and visual language in Indian theatre.
He said: “I am exploring the dramaturgy through space, objects and action as the core performance language, rather than using word as a primary source of communication.”
Mr Sivaraman, an alumnus of London-based St Martins College of Art and Design, adapted a story by novelist Gabriel García Márquez’ into an Indian context.
Spinal Cord will be shown in August at the Edinburgh Festival.
