May 14 2026 to May 14 2026 7 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

A decade ago, the Deshpande family had a home. Now all that remains is a ruin.

The walls are torn and the sun is unrelenting. Vultures circle. Water runs scarce. The once-formidable stone mansion of Dharangaon has become a shadow of itself, just as the family that built it. Some have died, others have left. Only three remain. 

When cousin Abhay returns from the cold of Sweden, he only finds dust. Four people in a dying landscape, asking the questions that comfort and distance had kept at bay: What do we owe the places that made us? What do we leave behind for our children? And when everything has already been lost, what is there left to mourn?

Yugant, performed in Hindi, is the final part of Mahesh Elkunchwar’s celebrated Wada Chirebandi trilogy: the culmination of a family saga that has tracked one household across decades of quiet unravelling. 

Supported by:

Cast & Crew

Mahesh Elkunchwar
Playwright
Mahesh Elkunchwar, a Literature Live! Lifetime Award recipient 2022, was Head of the Department of English Literature at the University of Nagpur. He has taught at the Film and Television Institute, Pune and at the National School of Drama, New Delhi. He has written 20 plays, in addition to his theoretical writings, critical works, and his work in India’s Parallel Cinema as actor and screenwriter. He is considered one of the foremost playwrights in Marathi and Indian theatre. He has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in performing arts in India. His latest book,The Necropolis Trilogy, is a collection of musings on his childhood and youth.

Gerish Khemani
Director
Gerish began his journey as an actor in Mumbai in 2006 with the theatre company Working Title. In 2015, he founded The Blind and the Elephant Theatre Group, that helmed critically acclaimed productions like Ripples and In Search of Dariya Sagar (co-written by him), which received the 2017 Hindu Playwright Award for the best unpublished play. His 2016 student production Antigone 2.0, a contemporary retelling of Sophocles’ classic was hailed as one of Mumbai Theatre Guide’s top 10 picks. Gerish deepened his artistic and pedagogical practice at the London International School of Performing Arts in Berlin. His current work includes Anandovari (Verandah of Bliss), which explores the creative consciousness of the 17th-century Marathi saint-poet Tukaram, and Yugant (The Apocalypse). Alongside his artistic work, Gerish is also a visiting faculty at The Drama School Mumbai and a corporate communication coach.

Akhshay Gandhi
Translator
Akhshay Gandhi is a theatre actor and director, and a SITI Company ambassador for Suzuki Method and Viewpoints training. His work has been presented at a range of prestigious venues and festivals, including the Kochi Biennale, NCPA, Stanford University, UCLA, Columbia University, Off-Off-Broadway, and the International Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar, among others. He has also delivered a TEDx talk, presented a paper at the IATC Conference, and is a recipient of the Tata Scholar Grant and the BITSAA 30 Under 30 award.

Ajinkya Ovhal
Actor
Ajinkya Ovhal is an actor, writer, and director with a strong foundation in theatre. He holds a Master’s degree in Theatre Arts from the Academy of Theatre Arts, University of Mumbai, and has trained under noted mentors including Vijay Kenkare, Govind Namdeo, Sai Paranjpe, and Nadira Babbar. He also earned a Diploma in Movement Arts from Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bangalore, which informs the physical dynamism of his performances.

Ajinkya has collaborated with filmmakers and artists such as Ashwini Chaudhary, Pan Nalin, and Sanjay Upadhyay. His recent theatre credits include Hence Proven (Dramaturge), Aazam-Azeez (Actor and Director), Letters of Love VI (Actor), Aawaz ka Neelam (Writer and Director), Anandovari, Tughlaq, and In Search of Dariya Sagar (Actor).

Barkha Fatnani
Actor
Barkha Fatnani is a multidisciplinary theatre artist: director, actor, dancer, musician, and performing arts educator. Her journey began with Ripples (2014), a Theatre in Education production directed by Gerish Khemani, which sparked her interest in storytelling and engaging young audiences.

Since joining Gillo Repertory Theatre in 2015, she has been an integral part of productions such as Kyun Kyun Ladki, Hanuman Ki Ramayan, and Chidiya Udd!. She has also created and performed original works including The Mountain That Loved a Bird, Nabiya, and The Hermit Crab’s Dream, often weaving together music and narrative.

Internationally, Barkha has participated in a storytelling residency in South Korea and collaborated with La Baracca Testoni Ragazzi in Italy, performing at festivals such as ASSITEJ Korea and Visioni. Alongside her performance work, she facilitates workshops for children, educators, and artists, with a focus on inclusive practices.

Hrishabh Kanti
Actor
Hrishabh Kanti, a graduate of the Manipal Institute of Communication, began his theatre journey during his college years, performing with various groups. He moved to Mumbai to pursue acting professionally, marking an early milestone with a play at Thespo 19 and later becoming a Thespo Fellow at QTP Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

His stage credits include Transfer Kid (DforDrama), Tughlaq (BeTaal), Anandowari (Gerish Khemani), Greatest Show on Earth (Vikram Kapadia), Golden Jubilee (Saurabh Nayyar), Story of Space and Refund (Rangshila), Rangaai and Tumhaare Baare Mein (Aranya Theatre Group), and For What Will Destroy You (Kathleen Duborg). He has worked with noted theatre practitioners such as Sunil Shanbag, Quasar Thakore Padamsee, and Neeraj Kabi, among others.

Hrishabh is also an alumnus of Drama School Mumbai, where he was awarded the Inlaks merit-based scholarship. Most recently, he appeared in Barricade by Arpana Theatre, directed by Sunil Shanbag.

Jaymin Thakkar
Actor
Jaymin Thakkar is an Indian actor known for his work across theatre, film, and web series. A prominent presence in the theatre circuit, he has appeared in acclaimed productions such as Baaghi Albele, Hello Farmaaish, In Search of Dariyasagar, Dastaan-e-Ghalib, and Anandowari, among others.

He has also expanded into the digital space with roles in web series including Amazon Prime’s Gulkanda Tales and Spotlight (Season 1). Through his contributions, particularly in theatre, Jaymin has earned recognition and respect within the artistic community.

Shruti Bangera
Set & Costume Design
Shruti Bangera is a painter, Yakshagana artist, and PhD researcher with a strong grounding in visual arts and theatre. Trained under Yakshagana guru, Bananje Sanjeeva Suvarna, she has contributed extensively to groups such as Nagna, Abhyaas, Punaha, and TBATE Theatre, working across visual design, costumes, sets, and makeup.

She is also deeply engaged in poster-making for theatre and Yakshagana, and has collaborated with Mahesh Dattani on Dance Like a Goddess. As a performer, she has played the lead female role in his Kannada production Yogi Mattu Bhogi.

Shishir Kolte
Sound Design
Shishir Kolte is a Mumbai-based performer, technologist, and theatre professional. He trained at LAMDA, completing eight grades in dramatics, and holds a Postgraduate Certificate from Drama School Mumbai. He has been performing since the age of 11, with credits including the award-winning Marathi short Umaz, TVF’s College Romance, and stage productions such as Bhar Divsa and Seize Her! The Clown.

Beyond his work in the arts, Shishir is the technology lead at Volar Alta, a deep-tech company focused on drone and AI-powered industrial applications. He is particularly interested in the intersection of storytelling and technology, exploring how the two can come together to create immersive experiences.

Sukrit Mahajan
Light Design
Sukrit Mahajan, originally from Delhi, is a theatre practitioner and screen actor currently based in Mumbai. After working as a production engineer and research analyst, he transitioned to the arts following the pandemic. He trained in Theatre Making at Drama School Mumbai (DSM) and subsequently relocated to Mumbai to pursue his practice.

With over eight years of experience across directing, production, acting, and lighting, Sukrit has been involved in more than 25 theatre productions, touring extensively across the country. In 2024, he founded his theatre company, Playhouse Productions, directing its debut production Equus. The company also produces Garam Roti and Tara’s Trio, where he serves as Executive Producer.

Utkarshh Babbar
Lights Operation
Utkarshh Babbar is a 26-year-old theatre practitioner who has spent the past six years developing his craft on stage. He has written and directed plays such as The L’onely Wish and Dusra Banbaas, which have been performed in Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi. He has also worked as a lighting designer on productions like Kheyeshich and Who’s Afraid of the Naiyka, both supported by the NSA Grant. His broader body of work includes plays like Jhumkewali and events such as Thespo First Call, and he has worked as a spot operator for Aadyam’s Mumbai Star.

A film enthusiast with a strong interest in theatre studies, Utkarshh continues to expand his skills and knowledge. He has written microdramas for Zee5 and works as a freelancer with Pocket Aces, a subsidiary of SaReGaMa. With a growing interest in storytelling, he aims to build a sustained practice across theatre and film.