Address mental health and therapy through music, comedy with this sister duo

The cast members rehearse for the upcoming show

Starting a conversation might be tough, but carrying it forward is the most crucial part. With their jukebox musical Let's Talk, sister duo Mrinalini and Vaidehi Sekhsaria Somani push forward conversations around mental health and therapy in India through comedy, music, and thoughtful perspectives laid out for us on the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) stage. Ticket donations from the show will aid Salaam Bombay Foundation, an NGO that provides underprivileged adolescents the opportunity to pursue careers in creative fields.

Mrinalini and Vaidehi Sekhsaria Somani

Through its plot that follows an American therapist in India, the production battles the still prevalent idea that seeking the services of a mental health practitioner derogatorily renders one crazy. Written by Mrinalini and co-directed with Vaidehi, the show takes up heavy and sensitive topics including depression, grief, anxiety, family dynamics, body image issues, relationships, and various aspects of life. Comparing her observations on approaches to therapy in the United States and in India, Mrinalini, 22, shares, "The message I wanted to put out there is that therapy is for everyone. And so the setting of the show is a therapist's office, which is visited by characters who are very relatable." Vaidehi, 16, adds, "We want the audience to connect with these characters so that they feel comfortable asking for help or if they just want to talk to someone. You don't need a drastic situation to happen in order to go to therapy." Focusing on being well-adjusted as we grow into life's various phases, the sisters recognise and portray the benefits of therapy.

A moment from the rehearsals

While selected parts of urban India have embraced topics around mental health and therapy, the taboo isn't fully erased. So how do you make the conversation palatable? That's where music and comedy come in. The plot integrates pop and rock tracks by Beyoncé, My Chemical Romance and Queen that are played and sung live, and a few jokes smartly placed within relatable scenes that include family dynamics and therapy. Further, playing communicator is a key character who ties the script and ideas together - the therapist's assistant who, in a sense, guides the audience through the plot and its nuances. The sisters continue, "We like to refer to the assistant [played by 23-year-old singer and dubbing artist Kelly D'lima] as the audience's favourite. She moves the story along, has her own take on happenings during therapy sessions, and provides much-needed comic relief. The therapist's dialogues can be clinical but she's lighthearted, funny and also breaks the fourth wall a few times." The production also boasts of an international cast - Mrinalini's peers from her schooling in the US, Indian talent and alumni from the Salaam Bombay Foundation.

"The show is relatable for all ages because there's space for interpretation. The deeper you dig and view the show from different [perspectives], the more you will get out of it," Vaidehi concludes.

On August 16 and 17; 7 pm onwards
At NCPA, Nariman Point.
Email priti@salaambombay.org
Cost Rs 1,000 (minimum donation for a ticket)