CHENNAI: It’s your second date, and you are at a candle-lit dinner. While chatting with your date, your phone buzzes…the notification says that you have received an invite to play ‘mini-militia’. Do you swipe the notification away and have a good evening with your date, or pick your phone and get into the battle? If you were to choose the latter, you might probably be hashtaged #relationshipfails!
In an age of dating apps, love-lives of millennials have often been scrutinised. But what’s it really like? Stray Factory, in association with Rascalas and Here and Now, will be hosting a play — Crumpled – Tinder Tales and Relationship Fails, a compilation of short sketches which gives a peek into the lives of a generation ‘searching for Wi-Fi connections more than human connections’, this weekend. Aakash Prabhakar, director of the play and founder of Here and Now theatre, talks about the ‘imperfect love stories’.
After running over 15 shows in Mumbai, Aakash, who is excited about his Chennai debut, says that he was looking to make a story that could reach the masses. “When we stage big plays, there are a few who won’t be able to relate to it. For instance, I might not have the patience to read a big novel, whereas my father would…so, I wanted to create short stories, that aren’t related to each other, but bound by a common theme,” he shares.
In a time when a majority of youngsters who don’t believe in ‘prince charming’ or ‘the girl of my dreams’, Aakash says that he brainstormed with other writers to come out with ideas that were relatable in a world of low attention and high expectations. So, have they made any Chennai specific changes to the script? “Not really,” he says. “If we put ourselves in a bracket of millennials, the thought process everywhere is similar. We had to make a few changes…but, overall it’s the same!” he says.
We ask what turns him off while dating and pat comes the reply! “I don’t like how couples are into their phones all the time. When I visit cafes, I see them engrossed in their mobiles while they are with each other. It’s sad that there are fewer heart-to-heart conversations,” he says. Something that he likes? “Everyone is more approachable!” he explains.
“A few years back, walking up to someone and asking them for a cup of coffee would send you to jail. But, today, things have considerably changed. I won’t be judged when I ask someone out and that’s the best part.”
With dating apps blooming across the globe, finding an ‘almost perfect’ match online has become easy. But Aakash says that he likes it when the effort seems real. “Remember when the guy had to work hard, muster the courage to go up to the girl and ask her for a cup of coffee? That effort seemed real and genuine. That’s missing these days,” he adds.
Working with Chennaiites
It seemed like a ‘close to impossible’ task for Aakash to travel along with the Mumbai cast. So he decided to collaborate with theatre groups here. “A lot of money and logistics are involved…the best idea was to collaborate with people here and I met the creative bunch at Rascalas. Artistes in every city are different and I thoroughly enjoyed rehearsing and directing them,” says the young director.
Crumpled – Tinder Tales & Relationship Fails will be staged at Wandering Artist, RA Puram, on June 18 at 4 pm, 7 pm and 9 pm. For tickets, visit: www.eventjini.com/crumpled