We meet many people in our lives, some nice and some salty. The common thread in both of them is the potential to be a hypocrite. It’s this potential that the Indian People’s Theatre Association’s (IPTA) new yet old offering—Charandas Chor—in association with the Academy of Theatre Art university of Mumbai explores.

This iconic play is an adaptation of a Rajasthani folk tale by author Vijaydan Detha. It depicts the irony of how Charandas adheres to morals and dharma even as he goes about his everyday business of theft. When finally arrested by the police in an ashram, he says, “Guru, main toh andhere mein chori karta hoon; aap to din mein, bhare logon ke beech, chori karte ho.”