On August 14, 1947, a young couple in Delhi is about to discover their love and differences, along with others who visit their home that evening. India is on the brink of getting its Independence. While the premise of Des, a play written and directed by playwright, Abhishek Majumdar, sounds simple, it is far from that; much like the complex history of our nation. Apart from focusing on the era, the story explores the ramifications of political incidents on our identities, the leaving of the British, and how these events land up in living rooms and have a role to play in one’s everyday life. It looks at how families are affected by agreements or disagreements, and where we are politically. 

Written before the lockdown, the play was awarded the Sahitya Rang Manch Puraskar in 2019. While the first production was directed by Rasika Agashe in 2022, the play has now been directed by Majumdar, and will open at Prithvi Theatre this weekend. The 90-minute Hindi production stars Irawati Karnik, Sandeep Shikhar, Ajeet Singh Palawat and Avneesh Mishra in lead roles.