Anything But Love - An English Play

Sanskruti Shikhar, as part of its fund-raising efforts to manage its school for the differently abled, is organising Anything But Love, an English play, on 13th January, at the Shilpa Kala Vedika, Madhapur. The play is produced by Raell Padamsee (daughter of adman Alque Padamsee) and directed by Vikranth Pawar.

This dialogue-oriented play features only two characters on stage, Mandira Bedi and Samir Soni, and is about a divorced couple running into each other. Aneesh (Samir) and Seema (Mandira) decide to have a drink, and that triggers a whole lot of emotions. They end up discussing everything about their married life — ecstasies, expectations, ego climbs, outbursts, children, adultery, betrayal, gay psychiatrists etc.

It is while they rediscover that they still have feelings for each other that Seema decides to dump her present husband Shekhar - apart from some intimate moments and the occasional foreign tours, their relationship is full of hostility.

Reality stares Seema in the face when she discovers that she is pregnant with Shekhar's child. Aneesh, who revels in small-time flirting, is in no mood for a reunion whereas Seema resolves to get back to her husband.

The fall-out of divorce and the feelings of the estranged couple have always served as themes for stage and celluloid productions. Only, director Vikranth in 'Anything But Love' has concentrated on the protagonists without taking the other characters into account.

Sanskruti is a ladies organization set up in 1987 with the aim of encouraging cultural activities. In the year 2000, the organisation took a major step in the direction of fulfilling its social responsibility by establishing a school for differently abled children under the name Sanskruti Shikhar.

As part of its efforts to be self-reliant, it started Sanskruti Creations, a unit which makes and markets delicious and healthy snacks and eatables. But the main source of funding is direct donations from well-wishers and periodic fund raising programs.

The entry to the play is by donor passes of Rs. 2,000 / Rs. 1,500 / Rs. 1,000 / Rs. 500 / Rs. 300 per head. Please contact Shivani Shroff at 93910-51412 for further details.