Play with the food

Seema Pahwa on her play Saag Meat, and cooking for audiences

Seema Pahwa in a scene from the play (above); the audience at the Delhi show

Important: Keep talking while cooking

Process:
* Boil palak, grind and keep aside
*Fry onion, ginger and garlic paste
* Add mutton and cook
*Add masala — chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and cumin powder
*Add tomato and curd
* When the mix is cooked, stir in palak
*Salt to taste
*Serve warm to audience

That’s the recipe for the play, Saag Meat, being performed by Seema Pahwa across the country. The actor, best known for her role in Hum Log in the ’80s, is now stirring a different cauldron as a performance artiste. Saag Meat, which held a show in Delhi on April 11, sold out several days before and organisers at the venue, Bakheda, had a hard time convincing callers that the “waiting list is still 50 as there has been no cancellation”.
To Pahwa, this may feel like deja vu as she is propelled into a limelight that rekindles memories of Hum Log. “The truth is that I have always been in theatre. I was a part of theatre group Sambhav in Delhi and also worked with the NSD Repertory Company from 1990 to 1992,” she says, adding, “Now, with recent films such as Tere Bin Laden, Ferrari ki Sawari and Ankhon Dekhi, my face is suddenly being recognised again, like that of an old friend.”
Saag Meat, she says, reprises a play she did in the ’80s with Sambhav. Written by Bhisham Sahni, the play is a satire on the middle-class. The solo act features a woman who is regaling an unknown listener — the audience of the play — about her life and her domestic help. “The title of the play could refer to the class disparity in India, where meat is the food of wealthy tables and the humble palak is the sabzi of the poor,” says Pahwa. She adds that in the three decades since she last tackled the play, storytelling styles have changed. “I felt inspired to present the play in a different way. Why not cook saag meat while performing the play?” she says.
The result is a multi-level experience in which the audience can watch saag meat cooking and smell the flavours as Pahwa’s protagonist, a loud Punjabi woman, gloats about her husband and diamonds. “The woman does not realise it, but her conversation reveals a cycle of exploitation and subjugation of her domestic help. So many of us are guilty of apathy and exploiting our servants simply because we pay them. How many of us realise the effect of our actions on those who work at our homes?” says Pahwa.
As she talks, Pahwa keeps sauteing, stirring and sprinkling. Sometimes, audience members pipe in with cooking tips. “We have a chat about masalas and how much to fry. Once, somebody told me not to add green chillis, and another time, I asked people about how much dahi to use. This opportunity to improvise is one of the good things about interactive performances,” says Pahwa, who cooks at home so frequently that the play seems like an extension of real life. “Only the quantities change depending on the audience numbers. In my last show, there were 80 people watching,” she says. After the performance, Pahwa serves saag meat to the audience and “we all eat together”.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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