10th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards Winner announced

The annual awards, which reward and recognize theatre from across the country, are among India’s premier awards for the industry, rewarding talent across 14 award categories including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Awards were hosted by Rajat Kapoor and Ira Dubey and it included memorable performances by Vidya Shah, Vocal Rasta, Aditi Mangaldas and Barmer Boys. The META Gala Awards Night was attended by eminent personalities from the field of art & culture, corporate world and politics.

Recognizing his exemplary body of work, Heisnam Kanhailal was conferred Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian theatre by Anand Mahindra – Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra. The Lifetime Achievement Award carries prize money of Rs 5 Lakh.

It was a winning moment for Kerala based director Jino Joseph as his play Matthi, which won the Best Production at META 2015, also bagged the most number of awards including Best Director and Best Script for him as well as Best Actor in a Lead Role (Male) which went to Renji Kankol.

The Best Actor in Lead Role (Female) was shared by danseuse, vocalist and actor Sanjukta Wagh for her stirring performance in Rage and Beyond:  Irawati’s Gandhari and Swetha Shrinivas for brilliant portrayal of Seetha in Chitrapata.

Commenting on the Awards Jay Shah, Head, Cultural Outreach, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “The Mahindra Group takes great pride in announcing the winners of the 10th META. It has been very satisfying to see plays from all corners of India being presented on a common platform in our Nation's capital and even more gratifying to see plays of regional languages attain pride of place at META. We also salute Shri Kanhailal for being a beacon of theatre from the North East.”

The 2015 META Jury comprises distinguished Theatre Personality Amal Allana; Theatre Writer, Editor and Critic Anjum Katyal; renowned Theatre Artist, Neelam Mansingh; Theatre, TV and Film Director & Writer Ranjeet Kapoor; and Film, Theatre and Television Actor Saurabh Shukla.

Over the past few days, theatre enthusiasts in the capital were treated with the 10 nominated productions from across the country showcased on the META stage this year. From the contemporary interpretations of mythological texts, a Shakespearean tragedy on the treatment of the elderly set in tribal Assam, voices of Dalit Women, a peek into trauma and psychosis, impact of an evolving society on the cultural unity and fabric, and reflections on the LGBT community, the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards and Festival truly showcased theatre as the fabric and design of society.

Speaking on META Ravi Dubey, Creative Director of META said, “Theatre has evolved over the years, and this year’s line-up shows how theatre has touched and experimented with some of the boldest and undaunted topics. Recognising and rewarding all aspects of theatre has been our mantra and with renewed energy we will continue our efforts”.

Commenting on META 2015 Sanjoy Roy, Managing Director - Teamwork Arts and Producer - META, said, “The verdict is out and Indian theatre is the winner. META has always been about new ideas and our endeavour has always been to inspire and galvanize theatre activity across the length and breadth of the country.”