These Mumbai teens want to make a strong statement with their play

Rustom Irani, 17, has Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). His friends, Balwinder Singh has dyscalculia (severe difficulty in making arithmetical calculations) and Fred Fredrickson has OCD. They may seem like an odd bunch, but they have their own dreams and aspirations. They also are the heroes of 17-year-olds Ali Haji and Shishya Ray (who form Clean Slate Productions) play The Mad World of Rustom Irani.

"The aim of making this play was to highlight the fact that many people suppress their dreams because of fear of society. Parents need to know they shouldn't force their kids into doing the same," says Haji, who also plays Rustom. "We wanted to get the message across in a good way and not be too preachy, so we picked the genre of comedy," says Ray. The cast and crew are all under 19 and is made up of students from colleges such as HR, Jai Hind and Mithibai. "We called for people to audition and that's how the group was selected," says Haji. Their hero belongs to a Parsi family, where everyone is an over achiever. "What happens is that his parents are restricting him from becoming who he is. What he really wants to do, and is good at despite his shortcoming, will be revealed at the end of the show," the directors say. "It's all about breaking perceptions."

Where: Sophia Bhabha Hall, Cumballa Hill
When: August 26, 7 pm
Cost: Rs 350 TO Rs 500
Call: 8655535300