Ode to Fallen Screws and Other Cogs

A theatre performance in an unused basketball court sheds light on the underbelly of capitalism.

4 min readApr 18, 2018 01:11 AM IST

Scenes from the play, Dark Things. (Vishala Ramachandra Mahale)

A screw fell to the ground
in this dark night of overtime
Plunging vertically, lightly clinking
Just like last time
On a night like this
when someone plunged to the ground.

This poem was written by a young Chinese worker at Foxconn, a company that manufactures most of the world’s iPhones, days before he jumped to death in 2014. Now, 24-year-old Xu Lizhi’s lonely cry is being amplified in a musical indicting capitalism, made by students of the Ambedkar University in Delhi. Helping them is a group of intellectuals from India and South Africa. The work is titled Dark Things and will be staged in an unused basketball court.

The performance begins with a speeding factory van coming to a sudden stop and two people jumping out of the back. They are the agents who transport migrants to European countries. “I decide how many fit on my boat. A liver can get you to Italy. For a kidney, I’ll free you un to Spain,” announces a fixer. In the next scene, a row of migrants moves across the space, carrying remnants of their former lives — wrapped bundles, an infirm person on a chair, a cycle and a plant. Poems by Lizhi form part of the segment, Suicide at Foxconn. A vignette in the play, The Boner, deals with the excavation of a mass grave, while another has a singer performing on top of a moving trolley as soldiers provide contrasting visuals.

The performance begins with a speeding factory van coming to a sudden stop and two people jumping out of the back. (Vishala Ramachandra Mahale)

“Dark Things is a weaving together of bits of hardship from the new frontiers of work and suffering in the 21st century. This frontier of cellphones, silk and hazmat suits, and its Afro-Asian landscape signify a world out of joint and moral kilter,” reads the concept note. The play is based on a script for an oratorio by South African poet and academic Ari Sitas. “We celebrate cellphones as a great 21st-century commodity and yet, if we look at the people who are making it, we will see a landscape of work and suffering. My libretto is about this new world in which we are getting into trade agreements and there are silk roads, shining India and emerging South Africa, but we don’t look at the underbelly, such as migration,” says Sitas, who has a musical group along with Sumangala Damodaran that has released three CDs and explores music from both countries.

The team also comprises Anuradha Kapur, former Director, National School of Drama; Deepan Sivaraman of Ambedkar University; and Reza Khota, a well-known musician from South Africa. The non-linear narrative is connected with songs and speech, with the soundscape spanning Afro-Asian tonalities, from raga to jazz. Twenty students are participating in acting and backstage work.

“The intention of the performance is for vignettes to come together in an experiential way. One of the things I read after this boy threw himself off at Foxconn is that the company considered putting nets,” says Kapur, “rather than changing the practices.”

Sivaraman adds, “Life around the world has become darker for more and more people, especially the marginalised. It is now acceptable to work 16-18 hours in a factory for a woman who is not allowed to go to the toilet. That is the counter effect of a capitalistic structure.”

Story continues below this ad

The play will be held at Ambedkar University, Delhi, on April 18 -19. Entry is free

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

📣 For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram

Loading Recommendations...

Apr 20: Latest News

Live Blog