Suit Yourself

It was long-awaited 8212; the staging of Neelam Man Singh Chowdhry8217;s latest play, The Suit, which opened at the Rangshankara Festival in October 2007.

8216;Performing a play in Chandigarh is such a significant moment for me,8217; Neelam Man Singh Chowdhry on her brand-new production, The Suit

It was long-awaited 8212; the staging of Neelam Man Singh Chowdhry8217;s latest play, The Suit, which opened at the Rangshankara Festival in October 2007. And almost a year later, the director is set to stage it for the Chandigarh audiences. Presented by People For Animals PFA, the play has been sponsored totally, 8220;and 100 per cent burden is off my head,8221; Neelam agrees that the organizational aspect is a logistic nightmare for her and she was very relieved not to wear too many hats. According to Payal Sodhi of PFA, by supporting art, culture, they are looking for support from the city, to help them branch out, 8220;and I8217;m so happy with the response from our sponsors. People here have really opened up to our work and concern.8217;8217;

8220;The inspiration for my work comes from this city, this environment has nurtured me, so performing here is so significant and exciting, for my actors of The Company and me,8217;8217; the play has been inspired by a three-page story by South African writer Can Themba and deals with a cruel moral dilemma faced by a young married couple. The husband discovers his wife in bed with her lover. The lover flees, leaving his suit behind. The husband then forces the woman to treat the abandoned suit as an honoured guest, accompanying them even on walks and at the dinner table. Though intended as a constant and tormenting reminder of infidelity, the suit becomes a witness as much to the husband8217;s own misery as to the slow mental disintegration of the wife.

Neelam recalls seeing the play in 8216;95 at the Tricycle Theatre in London during the London International Festival of Theatre LIFT. 8220;Performed in a realistic manner, I was moved by it and kept using it as a reference and sub-consciously, I wanted to move into another genre,8221; Neelam says that the play is deeply rooted in the politics of South Africa and the presence of the suit in the play is a metaphor for apartheid. Neelam says the political metaphors did not work for her at all, as she cannot work on a decontextualized frame. Dramatized by Surjit Patar, Neelam says a lot of improvisation, team-work and character building went into the production. 8220;The play is apolitical with no agenda. While reading the story I felt anger of the characters, their sense of being betrayed by their own natures. It may appear a simple tale of a husband and wife and loyalty, but ultimately, theatre becomes a courtroom in which we judge ourselves and our mysteries. Is the husband guilty of brutalizing his wife? Is his wife guilty of adultery? Was he angry, and she lonely? it is for theatre to mediate.8221;

The Suit will be staged at the Rock Garden from November 12 to 16 at 7 pm.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More