DUSHYANTAPRIYA has been inspired by Kalidasa's Sanskrit play ABHIGYAN SHAKUNTALAM. This play within a play, has Rohit; a 20 something lad from the small town of Karjat playing the role of deer. Unforeseen circumstances have the girl playing Shakuntala leave the play. Just two weeks are left for the opening of the play and this news sends shivers down the director's spine. This is when Rohit offers to play Shakuntala. He does it with such ease that the director decides that all the women roles will be done by boys. This puts the two boys Rohit and Sushil opposite each other on stage as the two lovers.
As gender identities blur, the play intercuts to the real lives of these characters and has an impact on both Rohit and Sushil's lives. This is the first ever queer adaptation of ABHIGYAN SHAKUNTALAM.
Dedicated to the art of the masters: Kalidasa | Annasaheb Kirloskar | Balgandharv | Rituparno Ghosh.