Mahesh Dattani je uznávaný indický dramatik, ktorého diela sa ponárajú do zložitých spoločenských a psychologických tém. Jeho hry často skúmajú napätie medzi tradíciou a modernitou, odhaľujúc vnútorné napätie v indickej spoločnosti. Dattaniho štýl sa vyznačuje prenikavými dialógmi a hlbokým vhľadom do ľudskej psychiky. Je prvým dramatikom píšucim v angličtine, ktorý získal prestížne ocenenie Sahitya Akademi Award, čo podčiarkuje jeho význam v literárnom svete.
Mahesh Dattani is the first Indian-playwright writing in English to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi award. His plays bring Indian drama into the present day in their themes "sexuality, religious tension and gender issues" while still focussing on human relationships and personal and moral choices which are the classic concerns of world drama.
Set against the backdrop of a dance festival, the narrative explores the complex dynamics between aging Bharatnatyam dancers Jairaj and Ratna as they seek a mridangam player for their daughter Lata's performance. Tensions rise during a pivotal meeting with Lata's potential fiancé, Viswas, revealing deep-rooted conflicts from Jairaj and Ratna's past. The story delves into themes of tradition versus modernity, parental expectations, and personal aspirations, offering a poignant examination of relationships and the struggles of balancing ambition with familial ties.