‘We are living in a world of fabrications’

Jino Joseph bagged four awards, including Best Production, the last time he attended META. The Kerala director is back in contention with Nona, a satire on pseudo-nationalism

4 min readUpdated: Mar 17, 2018 08:48 PM IST

Nona, Kerala director, Jino Joseph, Malayalam play, theatre, art and culture, lifestyle news, indian express news, latest news

Shikhandi — The Story of the In-Betweens, a comedy in English from Maharashtra (pictured)

Nona means ‘lie’ in English,” says Kerala director Jino Joseph about the title of his latest Malayalam play, “because, nowadays, we are living in a world of fabrications, from misinformation and fake news to beef bans and anthems in cinemas”. Nona has been shortlisted for the prestigious Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Award 2018 (META) and will contend with nine others from across India in categories, such as Best Production, Best Director, and Best Script. Joseph won in these categories in META 2015 for Mathi, which means sardine (in Malayalam) and used the humble fish to explore the effects of capitalism on a village in Kerala. Mathi also got lead actor Renji Kankol, a former fish seller, a Best Actor. As he prepares to bring Nona to Delhi in April, Joseph talks about the underside of liking your country.

How does it feel to be back on the META stage?
Winning the META in four categories was a very big achievement for me. My parents were agricultural labourers in a remote village in Kannur and I grew up with theatre. The ’80s and ’90s were good times for professional and commercial theatre in Kerala as temples and churches would have plays and I used to participate in them. I never thought major awards were for people like me. The META gave a twist to my theatre career. In Kerala, only two or three people have got this award earlier.

You work with non-professional actors in your plays, including Nona.
For Nona, I have selected a rural theatre group from Calicut district of Kerala. The performers are beginners, who have created a group called Black Theatre. The actors are daily labourers, farmers and some work in small shops. I used to teach but am full-time into theatre now.

What is the narrative in Nona?
Prashant is the hero-cum-villain of this play. His father is a very poor labourer, who works hard and has his own political views. Prashant has studied and now set up an advertising agency. He has put forward a proposal to the government to make a film to spread the word that India is shining. His proposal has got approved and he starts pre-production work for it. In the beginning of the play, Prashant draws a map of India on the courtyard with the help of tribal people. When they ask for wages, he says that this was a part of helping the country so they did not have to be paid.

What is the role of Renji Kankol, your Best Actor from Mathi?
He plays a magician. Prashant has two aides — a magician and a goon. In the beginning, when Prashant tries to organise people for the shoot of the ad film, he fails. This is when the magician enters the picture and he shows some tricks that enchant people. Slowly, people get attracted to him and Prashant gets an entry into their minds. The magician tells the public, ‘If you stay with Prashant collectively, he can make bigger magic for you’. He is an illusionist who makes people believe.

How have you recreated rural Kerala in Nona?
Nona is big and heavy when it comes to sets and technical aspects. The entire stage is like a sloping platform that moves in different directions carrying the cast of almost 25 actors. The platform is also a moving one, turning up and down with the actors. When it goes up with the characters, we can use the lower portion of the platform. We are using four or five hens in the play. After drawing the map of India, Prashant appoints his younger brother to restrict all the hens and other animals from entering the map. The problem starts there.

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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