The play ‘Demo’ recreates a virtual meet-up
The Hindu
The online performance depicts marriage rituals and interactions in the digital world with a touch of humour
Corporate executives Abhishek and Manya find each other on shaadipakki.com (a fictional matrimonial website) and meet virtually over a video call. From the initial awkwardness to tense moments from questions about their past — both characters relive memories, and their agreements and disagreements add to the story in the virtual play Demo that will go live on May 22 and 23. “Before an idea is launched, accepted and finalised, people say ‘Aap ek demo le lijiye/demo de dijiye’; that is have a short interaction to facilitate decisions. This short online performance revolves around love, life and modern day corporate struggles with a ribbon of poetry tied over it. Modern-day matrimonials are not far from the interventions of the Internet,” says Ankit Yadav who plays Abhishek.
A vacuum cleaner haunted by a ghost is the kind of one-liner which can draw in a festival audience looking for a little light-hearted fun to fill the time slots available between the “heavier” films which require much closer attention. A useful ghost, the debut feature of Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke being screened in the world cinema category at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), even appears so in the initial hour. Until, the film becomes something more, with strong undercurrents of Thailand’s contemporary political history.

Sustainability is not an add-on, but stamped firmly into the process: every piece is biodegradable, waste-free and unembellished, free from glitter or beads. “Products should be sustainable and biodegradable so that our planet is not harmed,” says Anu Elizabeth Alexander, a student of Sishya, Adyar. At a recent exhibition, the stars she made sold the fastest, followed by the small diamonds. “I would like people to know about the process, how it is created, and that it is sustainable,” says Anu. Infanta Leon from Kotturpuram developed an interest in crochet as a teenager. It was a hobbyhorse that evolved into a steed that would help her embark on a journey of identity-shaping creative engagement. She started making Christmas-themed decor two years ago, spurred by a desire to craft safe, eco-friendly toys for children. “With a toddler at home, and my elder child sensitive to synthetic materials, I wanted to create items that were gentle, durable and tactile,” she explains. Her earliest creations were small amigurumi toys which gradually evolved into ornaments that could adorn Christmas trees with warmth and charm.











