Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards gears up for milestone 20th edition with 10 incredible plays!
Selected from 367 plays from 20 Indian states in 32 languages and dialects
Indian theatre’s premier awards and festival—the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META)—returns from March 13th to 20th, 2025. Instituted by the Mahindra Group, META has unveiled the top 10 plays nominated across 13 categories. The plays will be staged in New Delhi, culminating in a glittering Awards Night. The winners will be felicitated on March 20th, 2024, at Kamani Auditorium in the presence of theatre luminaries.
Known for showcasing powerful stories, META’s plays have explored themes ranging from mythology, gender, and identity to rebellion, oppression, authoritarianism, personal struggles, and adventure. In its milestone year, the nominated entries continue to break barriers, presenting a dynamic blend of narratives and perspectives.
For the 2025 season, the festival received 367 entries from 20 states across India. The shortlist has plays from Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. As always, the festival has embraced inclusivity and diversity, with entries submitted in 32 Indian languages and dialects. The final 10 nominations feature plays in Hindi, Malayalam, Bangla, Kannada, Sanskrit, Bundeli, and English.
The Selection Committee, in collaboration with the META Secretariat, carefully reviewed all 360 plays submitted for competition. This year, the distinguished committee included Kuljeet Singh, Indian film and theatre actor, director, and founder/creative director of Atelier Theatre; Divya Seth Shah, film and television actor; Dilip Shankar, renowned Indian theatre and film casting director; Sankar Venkateswaran, respected Indian theatre director; and Anurupa Roy, a prominent Indian puppeteer, puppet designer, and director of puppet theatre.
Date: 13th to 20th March 2025
Venue: Kamani Auditorium & Shri Ram Centre
New Delhi
For the full list of nominations and schedules, please visit www.metawards.com.