The 11th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) announced

The annual awards, which recognize excellence in theatre nationally, celebrate the intrinsic diversity and rich cultural traditions of India. 

The META is India’s most comprehensive award and a premier honour for the theatre fraternity, awarding on-stage and off-stage talent across 14 award categories including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mein Huun Yusuf aurYeh Hai Mera Bhai stole the limelight, bagging 4 awards (Best Direction, Best Production, Best Light Design, Best Sound/Music Design) and a Jury Special Mention for Best Actor in a Lead role (Male).

Noted theatre guru and Chairman of the National School of Drama (NSD) PadmashreeRatanThiyam was conferred the META Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian theatre, presented by Shabana Azmi. The Lifetime Achievement Award carries a prize money of Rs. 5 Lakh.

On receiving the award, RatanThiyam said, “I feel deeply honoured by this prestigious award. It’s a kind of gesture of encouragement for us who are working in the field of theatre. I am happy.”

The 2016 META Jury comprised author KunalBasu, actor KusumHaider, director and actor M.K. Raina, dancer, choreographerTanushree Shankar and actor, directorSushma Seth.

Plays in diverse Indian Languages shone at the META Awards Nights this year with Shantanu Ghosh and Dyuti Ghoshof the Bengali play Haoai – The Eleventh Planetbagging the META for Best Actor in Supporting Role – Male and  Female respectively for their portrayals of the shy Polu and the excitable Mrinmoyee.

Best Original Script was won by Kannada play Akshayambhara, with its unique amalgamation of modern theatrical tools and the traditional Yakshagana dance theatre creating a contemporary narrative raising questions on female representation and male ownership. Prasad Cherkady, who playsa male actor in streeveshaasDraupadi in Akshayambhara, won the Best Actor in Lead Role (Male).

Sayalee Phatak won the Best Actor in Lead role (Female) for her depiction of the aggressive but troubled Mitra in search for her sexual identity in the play A Friend’s Story, an English adaptation of Vijay Tendulkar’s brilliant Marathi drama, MitrachiGoshta.

Malayalam play The Balcony was awarded the Best Costume Design for the authenticity of the costumes which transported the audience into the world of the production and Tamil playKuhaimaravasigal bagged the Best Choreography Awardfor the rustic quality of the movements which were well in tune with the symbolism depicted all through the play.

A unique stage adaptation of the 1920’s German silent horror film, The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari,set inside a rundown warehouse space featuring distinctive on-stage elements won Best Stage Design.