The Indian Heritage & Cultural Association of New Jersey held its 10th Annual Multilingual Theater Festival on August 23rd and 24th at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, marking what organizers called, “a decade of artistic brilliance, cultural celebration, and heartfelt community engagement.”
Over two days, the festival showcased eight short plays across multiple languages, each reflecting the cultural tapestry of Indian storytelling and the power of performance to bridge generations and geographies.
The event was inaugurated by IHAC Founder Dr. Ashok Chaudhary who welcomed the audience and introduced his dedicated team. The ceremonial lamp was lit by Chief Guest Consul Piyush Singh from the Indian Consulate in New York, alongside Gold Sponsors Drs. Rachana and Anand Kulkarni.
Consul Singh highlighted the power of theater and the arts in connecting communities, strengthening bonds within the Indian American diaspora and fostering connections with the wider American community.
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Well known lyricist Susan Birkenhead spoke about the enduring value of simplicity and resilience in theater, at the opening ceremony.
The first day’s first play was Pramod Kale’s Marathi play Yugantar, which boldly interrogated Gandhari’s blindfold—not just as a personal choice, but as a haunting metaphor for willful ignorance in the face of epochal destruction.
A visually stunning dance drama Jatayu, choreographed by Dr. Maya Kulkarni was performed. Mesma Belsare delivered a poignant and intense portrayal of the mythic bird—embodying Jatayu’s fierce devotion and tragic sacrifice.
The third performance, Ujjan, a Bengali play directed by Sankha Bhowmic, offered a tender yet unflinching glimpse into the emotional terrain of parents raising an autistic child—navigating love, frustration, and resilience.
The evening concluded with Hemant Anikhindi’s satirical Marathi gem Lekhakacha Kutra, a witty and irreverent take on the compromises made by a serial writer caught between creativity and commercial demands.
The second day commenced with a felicitation ceremony honoring five famous individuals in the theater community with Lifetime Achievement Awards: Ashok Kamerkar, Dr. Meena Nerurkar, Dr. Farleigh Richmond, Sharad Sathe and the late Ashok Vanjari.
Dr. Nerurkar took the stage with a delightfully eerie comedy that blended humor with the supernatural. In this whimsical ghostly tale, two sisters meddle in the romantic life of a young woman—the daughter of one of the spirits. Members of the audience showed their appreciation for the clever writing and spirited performances.
What followed was a major shift in tone with Dan Swern’s Shiv’s Project that delivered a gut-wrenching tragedy based on a true story. The stripped-down staging and authentic dialogue cut straight to the heart, leaving the audience visibly moved.
The emotional depth continued with Saavlya, Chetan Datar’s exploration of lives lived in the shadows. Directed by Makarand Bhave, the all-female cast brought out the vulnerability and quiet strength embedded in their roles, illuminating themes of deprivation, compromised dreams, and sexual oppression.
The festival concluded on a jubilant note with Rahul Gune’s Sukhi Mansacha Sadara—a riotous celebration of tamasha, Maharashtra’s beloved folk theater traditionA with its infectious energy, colorful rhythms, and unapologetic joy.