It felt wonderful to be seen differently. After the show, many judges and other dignitaries spoke to us with love and respect,” recalls Jai (name changed) from his stage debut, Second Chance, a short skit that offered a glimpse into lives shaped by adversity and struggle. 

A year later, Jai and 18 young actors from Umerkhadi Observation and Children’s Home, Dongri, prepare to leap into the extraordinary. Last week, under the soft glow of stage lights at G5A, this writer watched their dress rehearsal for Ek Aise Gagan Ke Tale, a heartfelt adaptation of Badal Sircar’s Beyond the Land of Hattamala, which went on to have two sold-out shows.