Anish Trivedi's protagonist reflects a hint of David Duchovny's character from American TV series Californication. But the actor-playwright claims his latest play, Famous Last Words, is just a straight comedy-thriller
Anish Trivedi's protagonist reflects a hint of David Duchovny's character from American TV series Californication. But the actor-playwright claims his latest play, Famous Last Words, is just a straight comedy-thriller
Last week, a Twitter follower asked columnist-playwright-actor Anish Trivedi, if his new play, Famous Last Words, was like the American comedy-drama Californication which features David Duchovny as a troubled novelist. In his characteristic humour, Trivedi replied, "Well, you've got a writer, whiskey and women. Now, you draw your own conclusions." For us, he quickly added, "At the end of the day, it is a comedy." After a successful run of Still Single and One Small Day, Dipika Roy and Trivedi are back with a drama about an author surrounded by people who have their own agenda. 
Anish Trivedi and Amrita Puri perform a scene from Famous
Last Words. pics/Prathik Panchamia
Anish Shah (played by Trivedi) is a successful author who hasn't been able to write a single line in five years (get the Californication connection?) but he has been able to get by on the dregs of fame from his last successful accomplishment. After the initial frustration, he turns complacent, learning to enjoy the situation he is in. "It takes a certain event to physically hurl him out of his complacency. He starts writing after his ex-wife insists he does. And then, his assistant Randy (Sahil Jaffery) and girlfriend Tanya (Amrita Puri), who fills in for Randy, enter his life with their own agenda," explains Trivedi.u00a0
Like with his earlier plays, Trivedi continues to explore the challenges of urban living. Roy, who doubles up as actor and director in this production, shares, "The characters have their own history. They try to download the snags in their own lives on to the protagonist."u00a0 "Every character you see on stage is dysfunctional. Every relationship they share is a little out of whack," says Trivedi. "But there is a constant need for those relationships to work out," concludes Jaffrey. With two months of rehearsal behind them, this lot seems to be in sync with one other. Roy agrees: "We've grown tentacles around each other!"
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On May 15, 7.30 pm at Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point. Call 22824567 Tickets Rs 750, Rs 500, Rs 350 and Rs 200
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