In a house in Haryana, no one is speaking.
Not because there is nothing to say, but because no one has found the courage to begin.
Dastak means “a knock.” Not always on a door. Sometimes it is the quiet stirring within a family, when silence becomes too heavy to carry.
This is a story about one family. But it could be any family—the one you grew up in, the one you carry with you.
For director Harsiddhi Mody, that inner knock lies at the heart of her 2026 production. “At its core, it represents truth and change, something the family can no longer ignore,” she says.
“For the characters, it’s an emotional knock on long-held beliefs, urging them to seek the respect they deserve and daring them to dream. For the audience, it is an invitation to pause, reflect and connect.”
Produced by Khelaiya Productions, the Hindi play is set in a Haryana household. On the surface, it is a regional story. But Mody is clear: the emotions are universal.
The script, written by Vishal Bhardwaj, captures the rhythms of Haryanvi life—its blunt speech, fierce pride and unspoken wounds. Mody describes him as a gifted storyteller whose characters are layered and distinct, each carrying their own emotional journey. Directing the play, she says, has been about honouring those truths.
When she first read the script, she knew it needed to be staged. Not because it was dramatic or sensational, but because it was ordinary—the kind of ordinary that hides quiet griefs and unspoken dreams.
This year, Khelaiya Productions is focusing on stories from North India. Alongside Dastak, the company will stage the Hindi musical Faujdar Ghashiram later in the year. Yet Dastak feels especially intimate. Haryana, Mody says, is a place shaped by strong family bonds, tradition and hierarchy.
Still, the questions it raises go beyond geography.
“It reflects conversations many families hesitate to have,” she says. “It touches on shared wounds, hopes, dreams and, above all, the basic respect every individual deserves.”
In Dastak, no character is painted as a villain. “We approached everyone with compassion,” Mody explains. “No one is entirely right or wrong. Each person is trying to survive in the only way they know how. The tenderness comes from love that exists even when people fail each other. The tension comes from fear—of change, of being misunderstood, of losing control.”
For members of the Indian diaspora, the play may feel especially close. “We carry our roots with pride. But we also carry unspoken expectations. Dastak asks whether we can make space for empathy and honesty without feeling we are betraying our culture.”
She hopes the play sparks conversations around gender respect, mental health, generational pressure and the loneliness that can exist even within families.
The moment is significant for Khelaiya Productions. The group has recently received the Australia Day Award for Outstanding Achievement in Culture & Arts from the City of Dandenong.
“This award means more than words can express,” Mody says. “As an immigrant artist, creating work from our roots and finding it embraced here in Australia is incredibly emotional. It tells us our stories matter. When stories are told with honesty, they find their people.”
Khelaiya is a community theatre group run entirely by volunteers driven by passion and love for theatre. “The applause inside theatre walls has always been our reward. But this feels like appreciation beyond those walls.”
In many ways, that recognition is its own kind of knock. A reminder that when stories are told with honesty, they find their people.
And sometimes, all it takes is one knock for a door to open.
Dastak will play at Clayton Community Centre on 11 and 12 April. For tickets, click here.
Connect with Indira Laisram on X
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
