EXCLUSIVE Interview! Feroz Abbas Khan On Letters Of Suresh Play, Mughal-e-Azam Success & More

1. What motivated you to transition to an intimate format like Letters of Suresh for your latest work, especially following the grandeur of your previous successes like Mughal-e-Azam?

The first thing that drew me to 'Letters of Suresh' was the writing. When I first read the play, its profound simplicity, depth, lyricism, intricate relationships and core of humanity overwhelmed me. It had such a relatable yearning for human connection and it was resonant both in the personal and universal sense. The idea of transitioning to an intimate, epistolary format like 'Letters of Suresh' also seemed interesting after the grandeur and visual spectacle of 'Mughal-e-Azam: The Musical'. As a theatre exponent, I want to explore diverse narratives and so after the scale of 'Mughal-e-Azam', 'Letters of Suresh' offered the perfect opportunity to explore a more introspective and emotionally immersive experience. The beauty of theater lies in its ability to encompass various genres and each project brings its own set of challenges and rewards. I find it immensely fulfilling to push the boundaries of storytelling and engage with audiences on different levels.

2. How do you believe the use of letters as a storytelling device contributes to the emotional depth and complexity of the play?

Unlike 'Tumhari Amrita' where a series of letters summed up the life-long yearning of two protagonists whose love remained unrequited, 'Letters of Suresh' uses letters as a storytelling device to explore four lives which on the surface have nothing in common. Then a chance event triggers a series of letters between them and we learn how dissimilar their lives and circumstances are and yet how similar they are in their yearning for an answering echo, for an authentic dialogue with another soul. They write in these letters, things they may not have verbalised to anyone else. They revisit memories of people who have left an imprint on their lives, recall things they are not proud of, their losses and the little nuances of everyday lives. Each letter offers a glimpse into the characters' innermost thoughts and feelings, and the epistolary narrative has a tactile resonance that transcends digital communication. The spaces between the lines convey unspoken emotions, adding layers of meaning to the narrative. Unlike dialogue-driven stories, letters allow for a deliberate exploration of characters' inner worlds, fostering introspection and empathy. Whether it's the pain of unrequited love or the hope of forging new bonds, each letter is replete with a rich emotional experience where love, loss, and redemption exist side by side.

3. Could you elaborate on the challenges and rewards of going into themes of love, loss, and existential loneliness through the medium of letters and intimate human connections in your play?

How do you authentically convey love, loss, and existential loneliness through written words on stage? That was the primary challenge. In the absence of visual cues, actors must translate the text into tangible emotions via their performances. It is not easy to personify the subtleties of language and we had many rehearsals to get the tenor right. If we had failed to strike the right note, this play would not have been performed. The play in the end is about letter writing. This format strips away modern distractions and lets characters express their deepest vulnerabilities, inviting audiences to reflect on their own experiences in an intimate exchange. It was most rewarding to see how the enduring beauty of the text forged a meaningful relationship not just with the actors but anyone who watched them during rehearsals.

4. One thing that you would like the audience to take away with them after watching the play.

I think everyone who watches this play will find something relatable and I will leave it to the audience to take away what they want from this story. What I took away from it was a longing for simplicity, for gossamer threads of organic communication that bind even the most disparate people across continents and epochs. On the surface , this play is about letters that four people write to one another in order to be heard and to make sense of their own lives. But, it is also a deep exploration of existential loneliness, of the vacuum we experience within when we feel isolated, unheard, unseen and disconnected from everyone. It is also a fine study of love, the aftermath of death, of things unsaid and of finding a glimmer of hope even when life seems bleak. I hope, after experiencing this emotionally immersive journey, audiences will carry with them a renewed appreciation for the complexities of the human condition and empathy for the struggles and triumphs of others.