Theatre veteran Veenapani Chawla leaves behind a rich legacy

Almost till her last breath, Chawla — considered to be one of the pioneers of contemporary Indian theatre — was engaged in her work.

Veenapani Chawla

It was a regular Sunday morning at Adishakti, a theatre arts and research residency located on the outskirts of Pondicherry. Its founder Veenapani Chawla, 67, met the other resident-artists to discuss the changes to be made in their latest play, The Tenth Head. The play already had its first round of outing at festivals and other shows. Based on the audience feedback, they were to “recreate” the play before its second premiere at Adishakti on January 4. “After the play ran for a while, Veenapani believed in recreating it by making changes based on our as well as the audience’s perception,” says Vinaykumar KJ, an artiste at Adishakti. After the discussion, Chawla, who had been unwell for a while, suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away at 11 am.

Almost till her last breath, Chawla — considered to be one of the pioneers of contemporary Indian theatre — was engaged in her work towards creating a performance methodology based on old knowledge. She formed Adishakti in Mumbai in 1981. Some years later, she took up the mission of creating the methodology that involves a physical craft to facilitate the actor’s vocal, bodily and psychological expression. She took a significant step in this direction with the setting up of Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research, a self-sustained residential theatre 8 km from Pondicherry, in 1993. In the following years, the space became a ground for creating some of the best experimental theatre productions, including The Impressions of Bhima, Brihannala, Ganapati, The Hare and The Tortoise and Nidrawartham. In 2011, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar for ‘theatre director’.

“What is absolutely remarkable about Adishakti is that even though the plays directed by her were completely modern, they were rooted in ancient art,” says Sudhanva Deshpande, actor and director with Jana Natya

Manch, Delhi. With her continuous exploration of traditional performing arts, such as Mayurbhanj Chhau, Kalaripayattu and Koodiyattam, she managed to use the lessons they offer to reinvent modern theatre.

Mumbai-based theatre director Quasar Thakore Padamsee — who was the assistant director of the international production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Tim Supple — recalls that the team was stationed at Adishakti for nearly 10 weeks, in two schedules, while giving shape to it. “She created this magical space where theatre artistes can stay and come back revitalised,” he says.

Throughout the year, the theatre residency hosts several workshops and retreats, living up to the image of being an art laboratory.

“Veenapani was ahead of her time. Hopefully, after her death, she will get the recognition she truly deserved,” says Vinaykumar.

Alaka Sahani

Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism. Expertise & Accolades In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023. Global Industry Leadership Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies: Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes. National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema. Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends. Focus & Vision Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More

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