Caste-based discrimination is like a virus: Zee Theatre’s Vikram Kochhar

On Ambedkar Jayanti, well-known theatre, film and TV actor Vikram Kochhar grows pensive as he discusses ‘State vs Malti Mhaske’, a Zee Theatre presentation exploring deep-seated caste divisions in society.

While working on the play, he went through many wrenching emotions. He says, “As an actor, if you’re emoting a story as visceral as this, it hits you hard and sensitises you to the inequities in society. Division of caste emerged from human occupations but acquired an ugly, hierarchical tone subsequently. Dr. B R Ambedkar raised his voice against this caste based apartheid but the situation hasn’t changed much despite our Constitution’s emphasis on fundamental equality of all citizens. Discrimination is like a virus and keeps mutating and acquiring different avatars. Just to satisfy their personal quest for power and privilege, people tend to discriminate and inequality becomes systemic.”

‘State vs Malti Mhaske’ is directed by Nikhil Mahajan, and also stars Divya Menon, Sagar Deshmukh and Smit Tambe. It will be screened on Dish and D2H Rangmanch Active and Airtel Spotlight on April 14th at 2 pm and 6 pm and is a riveting adaptation of American playwright and scholar Gary Earl Ross’ award-winning courtroom drama, ‘Matter of Intent.’

Talking about the storyline of the play, Vikram adds that the play is about a 20-year-old Dalit house keeper who is accused of murdering her upper-caste employee but it manages to addresses the problem of casteism and systemic discrimination in a very symbolic way.

Courtesy : Wionews

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