This evening, Vinta Nanda, Nisha Harale-Bedi and Salim Asgarally will read out portions from Nanda's first play, BAD -- The Theatre of Weird, at NCPA. Drop by to encourage the film and TV personality's first attempt at theatre

Not many might know this, but writer-filmmaker Vinta Nanda started off her career as a media person with a stint at Nadira Babbar's theatre group Ekjute. Even though Nanda has been a regular theatregoer, she never really took up the pen to write a play. Nearly 25 years after her first tryst with theatre, Nandau00a0 decided to go back to theatre with her own play BAD -- The Theatre of Weird because she believes it's the only medium that allows her to explore contemporary urban issues.


Vinta Nanda

In spite of being a thorough professional, Nanda admits writing a play has been a "nerve-wracking experience" since she is attempting a genre she hasn't been familiar with for a long time. "While writing the play, I was perpetually oscillating, wondering whether 'this could be turned into a TV show or may be even a film?' Writing for the stage is difficult because unlike films, I can't call cut and connect to another scene," admits Nanda.

For Nanda, writing the play has been a masochistic experience simply because it has allowed her to reach beyond what a film or TV script could. "Today, where I am emotionally, mentally and creatively, I don't think TV or film is ready for it. I want to create an urban and contemporary work with powerful women characters but I don't see it right now in TV or cinema. Instead of going forward I'm being forced to regress. But the theatre audience is much more mature," says the newbie playwright, who is looking forward to getting audience feedback after this evening's reading.

On: Today, 6.30 pm at Experimental Theatre Foyer, NCPA, Nariman Point. Entry: Free (Admission on a first-come-first-served basis)