Born in Delhi, Pratha Nagpal and her family migrated to Australia in 2015. “I moved at this funny age when I was just starting to be a teenage and really not knowing who you are,” she says.
Going through high school in Sydney and eventually pursuing university, Pratha adds, “The more I grew up, the more I realised that Indian food, especially when you don’t live in India anymore, carries a significant part of your culture.”
Along this journey, she developed an overriding interest in sharing immigrant stories, which coalesced into a sense of purpose.
After completing her arts degree at the University of Sydney and enrolling for Master of Fine Arts (Directing) at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, an opportunity came her way.
Pratha secured a residency for creating a new work at Shopfront, a vibrant and renowned theatre company located in Sydney, where she also works now.
So, she pitched a play that revolves around her mother. And tells us why.
“My mum is known for her cooking, and naturally, takes on most of the cooking responsibilities at home, using recipes passed down by generations of women in our family. The act of cooking feels steeped in history.
“I felt I don’t know what happens next with me when I don’t know exactly how to cook Indian food. This became the focus of my exploration for the play: the idea of how do I have the perfect relationship with my mum when it has to exist in the kitchen, but I don’t know how I fit in the kitchen.”
After many drafts, Pratha, realised her disconnection from appreciating the beauty of cooking and its role in preserving culture. Thus, the play Maa Ki Rasoi – My Mother’s Kitchen Maa became a representation of the actual struggle she was experiencing. It explores the relationship of an Indian daughter with her mother, through a celebration of Indian food as the daughter struggles to make aam ka achar (mango pickle).
Pratha’s stunning debut play had a two-week season last February, it came back for a weekend festival at the Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney, later. Now it’s coming back for the third time at Tape Over Festival, KXT on Broadway, Sydney, next week.
Pratha hopes that the play evokes reflection among the audience regarding their own connection with their culture and parents, particularly among immigrant children and parents.
“The complexities and nuances of our relationship with our homeland and culture are topics we often avoid due to the emotions and unresolved feelings they entail.
“By addressing fears of losing grandparents, cultural identity, and meeting familial expectations, the show explores these intense emotions. Sometimes, art or theatre can effectively articulate feelings that individuals struggle to express on their own. The ultimate goal is for people to attend the show and feel understood and heard,” she says.
Asked how her play explores cultural heritage and intergenerational connections, Pratha explains that it sheds light on the burdens involved. “The need to understand and carry cultural heritage without a guidebook or clear path. Particularly for young individuals in Australia, who find themselves in a middle ground, uncertain of what defines home or their cultural identity, the weight of doing justice to their heritage feels heavy. Through shared experiences, we discover community and redefine our relationships with our parents.”
Moreover, the show serves as a testament to the need for increased brown representation in the mainstream entertainment industry, where diverse narratives are often overlooked or marginalised.
“Throughout the writing process, I deeply felt the weight of this responsibility. Our stories are underrepresented in media, creating a void that needs to be filled. While it’s impossible to represent the entire community, I came to terms with this realisation that by authentically conveying our truths, we take a step forward in the journey of representation,” says Pratha.
And it was incredibly encouraging for Pratha to witness the impactful reception Maa Ki Rasoi has received so far expecially from a mixed audience. Not just Indians, but immigrants from diverse backgrounds, including Asians, were drawn to the narratives she authentically portrayed.
Prior to Maa Ki Rasoi, Pratha also produced a movement piece on Kali, which explored female rage through Bharatnatyam.
With her Master’s degree soon to be completed, she remains committed to creating new works that push boundaries and challenge artistic norms.
(Maa Ki Rasoi माँकी रसोई plays from May 31 to June 4 Broadway in Ultimo, Sydney. Click here to book tickets.)
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Step into the heartfelt world of Pratha Nagpal's 'Maa Ki Rasoi', a #play that beautifully unravels the bonds of culture & family. Join in for an intimate & soul-stirring theatrical journey. Learn more!👇 @NagpalPratha #MaaKiRasoi #TheIndianSun #Theatrehttps://t.co/LQvf3R6Ckg
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