more-in Playwright and performer Dayasindhu Sakrepatna, whose play Shiva was cancelled on Saturday after Hindu right-wing extremist organisations, led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), staged a protest, is mulling over his next course of action, including seeking legal recourse. “This is the worst thing that can happen to an artiste. I am considering all options, including approaching the courts,” said Mr. Sakrepatna on Sunday. Arundhati Raja, creative director, Jagriti, said the best way to respond to such diktats by the mob was to stage the play, and Jagriti was committed to it. “We need to seek police protection for the shows. But the police have said they will review the play, which has turned tricky. It is for the playwright to decide whether he is okay with submitting his play for review. We are waiting for him to decide,” she said. Mr. Sakrepatna said he was at a loss to understand what competence the police have to review the play. Speaking on suggestions to change the play’s name, he said the name was the essence of his artistic expression. “If I give in for the title, it will not end there. It is censorship by force. It is the duty of the police to ensure security for freedom of expression,” he said, and added that he would decide on the course of action after seeking legal opinion and meeting the Police Commissioner. “My concern is to ensure venues for safe staging of the play across the State, some of which are already scheduled.” The play tackles the problem of discrimination of the LGBTQI community. The VHP has taken objection to the title, saying it objectifies a Hindu god on sexuality, and on Saturday it petitioned the Whitefield Police claiming that the play offended religious sentiments.

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