In the heart of New Delhi, at the illustrious Kamani Auditorium, the national theatre community and a diverse audience gathered for an enchanting evening of celebration—the 19th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META).

META Awards in Delhi

META, India’s foremost theatre awards and festival, is renowned for its commitment to recognizing excellence in both on-stage and off-stage talent across various categories. Hosted by the Mahindra Group and orchestrated by Teamwork Arts, this week-long extravaganza, held at Kamani Auditorium and Shri Ram Centre, concluded with a grand finale. To commemorate, META honoured the best of Indian theatre from all corners of the nation. On the evening of Wednesday, 20th March, the festival crowned the top 10 plays of the year with the prestigious META awards.

META 2024 received over 390 submissions, representing a multitude of languages including Assamese, Bangla, English, Hindi, Hindustani, Malayalam, and Marathi. The esteemed jury panel, comprising luminaries such as Dolly Thakore, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Mahesh Dattani, Raghuvir Yadav, Smriti Rajgarhia, and Vinay Pathak, meticulously evaluated the entries to determine the deserving winners.

META Lifetime Achievement Award

One of the highlights of META is the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which this year honoured the legendary actor, director, and former director of the National School of Drama, Ram Gopal Bajaj. With a career adorned with accolades including the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Bajaj’s contribution to Indian theatre is truly exceptional.

Jay Shah, Vice President & Head of Cultural Outreach at The Mahindra Group, remarked, “The 19th META continues to raise the bar for excellence by showcasing the best of Indian theatre. Every entry we receive at META is a testament to the immense talent and dedication within our theatrical community.”

Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts & Festival Producer, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Indian theatre remains vibrant and relevant, reflecting the myriad challenges and aspirations of our society. The success of the 19th META is a testament to the diversity and creativity inherent in our theatrical landscape.”

Pin it for later Read

We were fortunate to have watched a host of amazing works during this extravaganza and were spellbound by the commitment to the craft the thespians displayed.

META Award Winners 2024

Here’s a glimpse of the remarkable talent recognized at the 19th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards:

1. BEST STAGE DESIGN – Raghunath – Bidyut Kr. Nath
2. BEST LIGHT DESIGN – Raghunath – Gautam Saikia
3. BEST SOUND & MUSIC DESIGN – Do You Know This Song? – Chayan Adhikari, Bindhu Malini N
4. BEST COSTUME DESIGN – Hayavadana – Melodi Dorcas
5. BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MALE) – Gopal Ure & Co – Tarun Bhattacharya
6. BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (FEMALE) – Gopal Ure & Co – Nibedita Mukhopadhyay, Hayavadana – Pallavi Jadho
7. BEST ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE (MALE) – Raghunath – Bidyut Kr. Nath
8. BEST ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE (FEMALE) – Do You Know This Song? – Mallika Taneja, Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta – Mallika Singh Hanspal
9. BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – Agnisuta Draupadi – Maisnam Joy Meetei & Mehak
10. BEST ENSEMBLE – Hayavadana
11. BEST ORIGINAL SCRIPT – Raghunath – Bidyut Kr. Nath
12. BEST DIRECTOR – Raghunath – Bidyut Kr. Nath
13. BEST PRODUCTION – Raghunath

The Awards Night

The META Awards night 2024 was attended by the whos who of the Indian film, TV, and Theatre world. The glamorous evening saw some stunning performances, fireworks on the stage, band baaja, followed by cocktails and dinner.

With each award, META reaffirms its commitment to celebrating the richness and diversity of Indian theatre, inspiring artists and audiences alike to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and expression. META is an annual ritual for us. A sacrosanct experience that showcases the powerhouse of talent Indian theatre is, for the umpteenth time, META 2024 humbled us.