The 18th edition of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) held a mirror up to our society, as actors retold a slew of unpleasant truths that pervade our worlds

The week-long theatre extravaganza, which commenced on March 23, returned to New Delhi after three years. Mohit Takalkar’s Hunkaro (performed in a medley of Indian languages such as Marwadi, Awadhi, Haryanvi and Hindi) won seven awards, including 'Best original script,' 'Best ensemble,' 'Best director,' and 'Best production.' Renowned stage, film and television actor Sushma Seth received the META 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Among the ten plays on stage were Daklakatha devikavya, which recounted the daily struggles of the oppressed Dalit community, Via Savargaon Khurd, which portrayed the challenges faced by people of a tiny village in Vidarbha during the gram panchayat elections, Hunkaro, which depicted the plight of a destitute farmer and his second wife who abandon their children in the hopes of finding work, and The Departed Dawn, which shed light on the global refugee crisis and drew inspiration from the experiences of Lhotshampas, the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees.

The Mahindra Group conceived META because it saw theatre as the origin of all other art forms. It has unquestionably been the primeval form of community entertainment and culture. Aside from that, the theatre began to decline a few years ago, when cinema became popular among the public. Mahindra started supporting theatre when there were not many backing it. And that’s true for most art forms and cultural events the Group conducts throughout the year.

Season of festivals

META is also the last "festival" in Mahindra's cultural outreach calendar (also known as Mahindra's ‘Season of Festivals’), which runs from November to March each year. The Group added three more events to its portfolio in 2022-23 (Independence Rock, Roots and  Percussion festivals), bringing the total to seven festivals steeped in culture, music, performing arts, cuisine, and craftsmanship.

“From November to March, India witnessed some great music, artistic expressions, and creative experiences through our lovingly curated festivals,” says Jay Shah, VP,Cultural Outreach at Mahindra Group.

“The halo around brand Mahindra shone brightly as the Mahindra Season of Festivals ended in March. We look forward to the 2023-24 season with great impatience and anticipation,” he adds.

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Mahindra Kabira Festival: The 6th Mahindra Kabira Festival on the banks of the river Ganga yet again paid homage to the poet-saint Kabir through music, puppetry, literature sessions and heritage walks in the ancient city of Varanasi.

Mahindra Independence Rock: The first Mahindra Independence Rock generated much goodwill for brand Mahindra for reviving this beloved festival after over a decade. Iconic bands played along with new-age ones to give Mumbai a truly headbanging experience!

Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival: Characterised by the theme of Raqs-E-Mausiki (dance and music), MSLF was a veritable feast of the arts, an elaborate crafts mela, gastronomic delights and literature sessions.

Mahindra Roots Festival: The debut of this festival in Mumbai saw the likes of Raghu Dixit, Arko Mukherjee, the Aahvaan Project, Abhanga Repost, and many others entertain the crowds with great aplomb. Roysten Abel’s Weaving Voices mesmerised the audience with its unique style and format.

Mahindra Blues Festival: The 11th Edition of this much-awaited festival was a sell-out with Blues Legend Buddy Guy on his Farewell Tour in Mumbai. Taj Mahal, Ivan Singh, and Kingfish delivered fine sets. The Nanhi Kali girls sang the Blues too!

Mahindra Percussion Festival: Rocking the Jayamahal Palace Grounds in Bengaluru, this festival’s first outing was a mega success. The crowds danced to the beats of Ranjit Barot, Sivamani, the Chemeen band from Kerala, and a host of other percussionists of repute.

META: The 18th META made its comeback after a period of three years in New Delhi. Sushma Seth was awarded the META 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award and Mohit Takalkar’s Hunkaro in Marwadi, Awadhi and Hindi walked away with 7 Awards!

Community-connect through art and culture

In its long history of nearly 80 years, Mahindra Group has supported numerous initiatives in art and culture, sports, education, and other facets of society while keeping community engagement as the end goal.

The Group believes that art and culture plays an important role in bringing communities together, which is central to its ‘Rise’ purpose. Mahindra’s approach to art and culture, therefore, is very strategic in terms of style and intent. By incorporating arts and culture into its core values, the Group intends to inspire ‘creative thought’, ‘whole-brained thinking’ and creativity within the organisation.

Above all, the idea behind Mahindra's "Season of festivals" is to provide people with memorable experiences through performing arts, music, handicraft, food, theatre, and culture. Each of these experiences is distinct in its own way. By promoting these festivals, Mahindra Group intends to go beyond its regular suite of businesses.

The ‘Season of festivals’ helps Mahindra to rise – Rise for our arts and Rise for our culture