Dilip Guha, New Delhi : Can a seemingly blank painting destroy a lifelong friendship? This deceptively simple question lies at the heart of ART, the celebrated comedy by French playwright Yasmina Reza, brought to life by Delhi-based Prarambh Theatre in a compelling new English production at Akshara Theatre on Sunday, 5 July 2026. Staged twice on the same day, both performances played to packed houses, earning enthusiastic appreciation from audiences for their humour, emotional depth, and insightful exploration of human relationships, reaffirming the Delhi-based theatre collective’s reputation for thought-provoking and socially engaging performances.
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Prarambh is a Delhi-based socio-cultural theatre collective and public charitable trust dedicated to meaningful storytelling. Through its productions, the group explores contemporary social issues—including women’s rights, child welfare, environmental concerns, and community consciousness—using theatre as a medium for dialogue, reflection, and social change.
The comedy play ART, first published in French in 1994. Widely regarded as one of the finest contemporary plays on friendship and human relationships, ART uses humour and sharp wit to explore questions of identity, perception, ego, and emotional vulnerability. The story begins with one friend purchasing an expensive all-white painting, another dismissing it as absurd, and a third attempting to mediate between them. What appears to be a disagreement over a work of art gradually unfolds into a profound examination of friendship, revealing how personal beliefs, insecurities, and differing worldviews can strain even the strongest human bonds.
Drawing inspiration from the original text, director Seshadri Mitra has skilfully adapted and contemporized the play, relocating it to a present-day Indian setting while preserving its universal emotional core. Mitra also essays the role of Mathur, delivering a nuanced performance that complements his directorial vision. The adaptation demonstrates that the real conflict lies not in the painting itself, but in the hidden anxieties, suppressed emotions, and fragile egos that shape human relationships.
ART marks Seshadri Mitra’s directorial debut, earning widespread appreciation for its mature treatment of a deceptively simple subject. Balancing the responsibilities of both actor and director, Mitra reflected on the experience:
“It was a challenging experience. When I first read the story, I was fascinated by how a white painting could lead to the end of a friendship and reveal the fragile nature of human relationships. I knew I had to do this. When people tell me this play reminded them of their friends and made them want to reconnect with them, I feel, as a director, that my story has travelled the distance and reached people, becoming their story. As a director, I have been able to achieve what I intended to do.”
The three central characters from the emotional heart of the production. Sameer, portrayed by Priyadarshi Banerjee, is the friend whose purchase of the controversial painting triggers the unfolding conflict. Banerjee brings remarkable sensitivity and restraint to the role, capturing the subtle emotional shifts of the character. Reflecting on the production, he said:
“It is always wonderful when work and friendship come together. ART was one such production, which I was fortunate to undertake with actors and a director who are close friends even off stage. What usually feels like a stressful phase of production sailed past with relative ease.”
Arundhati Banerjee plays Yukti, the third friend who finds herself navigating the growing tensions between the other two. Speaking about her experience, she shared:
“To be honest, comedy on stage isn’t a genre I naturally gravitate towards. But as an actor, you can’t limit yourself. More importantly, this production was my friend’s vision, and there was no way I wouldn’t stand by him as he took his first step as a director. The play was light, warm, and exactly what I needed amidst life’s chaos. ART is that safe space where a friendship survives the truths we don’t know how else to say.”
The production has been mentored by Prarambh Theatre’s guide and mentor, renowned director and actor Shri Rabishankar Kar, who sees the play as a meditation on empathy and acceptance. Reflecting on its deeper message, he observed:
“ART suggests that true friendship is built not on agreeing with one another, but on accepting differences with understanding, respect, and compassion. The painting may be blank, but it reveals the complexities of the human heart.”
Following the success of its two houseful performances in Delhi, Prarambh Theatre now plans to take ART to audiences across the capital and other parts of the country. Through its engaging blend of humour, emotion, and philosophical reflection, the production celebrates the resilience of friendship, reminding audiences that genuine human relationships ultimately transcend differences in opinion and perspective.
