October 1, 2010
India Post
25
www.indiapost.com
Maitri's 'Salaam India' is hilarious this theatrical production, a play inspired by Pavan Verma's bestseller, 'Being Indian.' The play is traveling across the US. "This is our opening night, first performance in the United States. No matter where we are,
KAVITA ARORA India Post News Service
SANTAS CLARA, CA: On September 18, Maitri hosted its annual fundraising event, a play entitled, "Salaam India," at the Santa Clara Convention Center to a full-house. Several hundred Maitri supporters came out for this humorous play. "The play is just hilarious and for a serious cause like Maitri, this adds a little lightness to it. I'm glad we are able to get this wonderful play to the Bay Area," said Vinita Gupta, a long-time supporter of Maitri.
What should we choose as India's national dish? Should it be vegetarian, a snack item such as a samosa, alloo tikki, or pao bhaji, or a South Indian idli or dosa? In a country with so many vegetarians, can it be tandoori chicken? Who should pay for the wedding and other expenses, the girl's side or boy's side and should the girl's side be subservient to the boy's side, a tradition that has been followed for centuries? These are just some of the thought provoking issues highlighted in
Who should pay for the wedding and other expenses, the girl's side or boy's side and should the girl's side be subservient to the boy's side, a tradition that has been followed for centuries? These are just some of the thought provoking issues highlighted when I look out and I see the stage and the set, that's our stage, our set, that's our space. So when we go out there, it's the same as anywhere else, "said Andrew Hoffland, one of the male leads in "Salaam India." Salaam India is directed by Lushin Dubey and
written for stage by Nicholas Kharkongor. The cast includes Shena Gamat, Ashish Paliwal, Andrew Hoffland, and Lushin Dubey. Well-known stage actress Lushin talked about the prior work she has done with Maitri and added that "when Mukta asked me about Salaam, I said of course because I've brought these very intense plays in the past and this would be something that definitely has content, has thought provoking bits and moments. It talks about our history, talks about so many things, like our basic psyche
that makes us Indian." Vinita Gupta added that "our hope and goal is with our community support, we can do early detection and prevention and make our community a stronger community so we have to face these issues lesser than what we are at the moment. The biggest thing that would help prevention goal is we need more involvement of role models of men. It's not like anybody comes out ahead when there is a breakdown in the family. This is part of our next strategy."
5$9, 6+$1.$5
7+ %,57+'$< &(/(%5$7,21 :,7+ $1286+.$ 6+$1.$5 Don’t miss the legendary sitarist and composer – India’s most celebrated music ambassador – in a very rare appearance.
Tanmoy Bose tabla • Ravichandra Kulur flute • with tanpura accompaniment
Wed OCT 20 • WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL Order Your Tickets Today! LAPhil.com • 323.850.2000 Box Office (Tue-Sun, 12-6pm) • Groups (10+) 323.850.2050 Programs, artists, prices and dates subject to change. Media sponsor: 89.9 KCRW
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