A Murder in the Lounge

When the lights come on for the play,a squabbling couple stumble down the aisle,shouting about a T-20 score. “Devika,tell me the score. For God’s sake it’s a T-20 match,” yells Ajit Pahuja,played by Kabir Mansata. His wife Devika is played by Vidushi Mehra,wife of designer Nikhil Mehra. At a party hosted by the couple,judge Kalpana Bakshi,played by the charming Jackie Grewal,is found murdered.

With a baton in hand and bawdy Haryanvi tongue,Koel Purie plays Delhi cop Simran Singh Bedi who is investigating the murder. She raps the couple,cracks jokes almost too risqué for consumption and even corners socialite Shallu Jindal,making fun of her “Page 3 status”. “Oh,so she doesn’t do anything,” guffaws Purie,as the crowed erupts in jeers.

“We have done interactive plays earlier in coffee shops and restaurants,but murder mystery is a first,” says Sabharwal. “Here,the challenge lies in controlling the crowd and yet reaching out to everybody.” One person among the audience who must have particularly enjoyed the show is golfer Kamal Goyal who made occasional verbal jabs at Purie when she went around stabbing people with the baton,pressing for clues.