US calling for 26/11 play, proceeds to buy uniform for cops

A play about seven ordinary persons finding themselves trapped in the midst of bomb blasts and gunfire during 26/11 and their stories of survival will be staged at the prestigious New York International Fringe Festival this month.

"A Personal War" is based on their true accounts as they went through the tragedy that unfolded in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

They were at seven different locations when terror engulfed the city. The incredible stories of the survivors highlight human fortitude, strength and courage, says the play's writer-director Divya Palat.

The proceeds of the show will go to the Mumbai police commissioner's Office for procuring safer uniforms and equipment for policemen on duty.

Fringe NYC, the largest multi-arts festival in North America, will see over 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days in more than 20 venues from August 13.

"It's great to be part of the only Indian play invited to the New York International Fringe Festival, it's no mean feat...There are barely 10 international plays being screened at the festival, we were chosen as one of 10,000 plays," says Divya.

According to Divya, who has acted in Bollywood films like "Kuch Na Kaho", "Masti" and "Krishna Cottage", the play was written in a bid to "try and find anything positive about the tragedy that occurred".

The play was written "because I wanted to try and focus on life rather than death; on love rather than hate and on survival rather than destruction. I wanted us to learn from these incredible survivors. I wanted us to focus on hope. I wanted to make a difference," Divya told PTI.

She says she has been approached to direct a movie on the same lines, "but I am going to wait and concentrate on the live theatrical performance travelling across the world first".

Last year, the play was staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and stood in the top three shows among 35,500 other productions and was even nominated for the amnesty international award.

"Talking to a live audience and performing in front of them really helps us reach people and adds a personal touch to this play," Divya says.

There will be five shows of the play at the Dixon Place Theatre in New York. The cast is Aditya Hitkari, Vivan Bathena, Anuradha Menon, Khushboo Hitkari,Vatsala Kothari, Sanket Mhatre and Divya.