The South Asian Theatre Mela, the flagship event of Nautanki Theatre, returned once again to celebrate South Asian performing arts, the diaspora community, and cross-cultural exchange, on 14 & 15 November 2024.
Launched in 2016, in collaboration with Riverside Theatre, Parramatta, Theatre Mela unites grassroots South Asian theatre groups to display a dynamic platform for diverse voices and cultural narratives. This one-of-a-kind festival fosters creativity, bringing together both emerging and seasoned artists to share their work with fresh and varied audiences across New South Wales.
The founder & Creative Director of Nautanki Theatre, Neel Banerjee, was honoured with the Citizen of the Year Award by the City of Parramatta on 25 January 2024. This prestigious award celebrates exceptional achievements and contributions to the local community, emphasising the importance of service to the Australian nation.
Since its inception, Nautanki Theatre has been a visionary force in the creative development of culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) theatre, striving to enrich the National Theatre of Australia. This recognition underscores their ongoing commitment to fostering artistic excellence and cultural diversity.
The Festival showcased three plays on those two evenings: On Beauty, Pomegranate Prince, and Insecurity.
On Beauty
A poem by the world-renowned Khalil Gibran came to life through an evocative blend of visual theatre, poetry, puppetry, and movement. This experimental piece delved into the mystical, as the source of all life sends spirits from the Divine realm into the physical world. Guided by the poem’s quest to define beauty, the narrative unfolded with thematic depth, while the enchanting art of puppetry breathed life into the spirits, exploring their journey as they take on various forms.
The Creative Team: Devised and directed by Shabnam Tavakol, supported and consulted by Maddy Slabacu. co-performed with Sophie Brown. The haunting music was by Bob Short.
Insecurity
This play explored the journey of a young woman grappling with deep-seated insecurities about her body. Though engaged to a devoted partner, she is haunted by fears that her appearance might jeopardise their future. On a critical evening, her anxieties come to a head, compelling her to confront a profound dilemma. In a moment of reckoning, she must choose between risking the love she cherishes or confronting and overcoming her own self-doubt.
This is a work-in-progress bilingual play (in English & Tamil) with significant potential to further explore the impactful consequences of body shaming.
The Creative Team: Pravithra Srinivasan along with Jerome Milton, Ponarasu Palanivel and Pravithra Srinivasan
Pomegranate Prince
An Indian immigrant grandmother tells her grandson the enchanting story of Prince Dalim Kumar, with the fairytale gradually blending into the boy’s own life. As the tale unfolds, it mirrors his struggles with parental expectations, identity, and a deepening sense of despair in a foreign land. This original Australian work by Tasnim Hossain was commissioned by Nautanki Theatre in 2020-21. The actors’ costumes in the fairytale were absolutely stunning, and at times, the fairytale itself would take centre stage.
The Creative Team: Director Shatadip Som along with Rupa Roy, Balarka Banerjee, Aparupa Samanta, Sajid Ibne Anowar, Rwik Chatterjee, Joyeeta Ghosh & Master Neelaksh Mitra
Website: https://nautanki.org.au/
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
