Hislop Centre for Performing Arts of Hislop College, in collaboration with Kala Natya Mandir, presented ‘Uss Raat ki Baat’, a Hindi adaptation of Harold Pinter’s psychological thriller ‘The Collection’. The production reinterpreted the classic text within a contemporary metropolitan setting while retaining the original’s layered ambiguity and tension. The play revolved around four characters caught in the aftermath of a supposed encounter at a Lucknow hotel, with each interaction contradicting the previous one and deliberately blurring the line between truth and fabrication. The adaptation by Rahuldev Mukherji preserved the essence of Pinter’s writing.

 

Directed by Ninad Gahane, the production emphasised the fragility of narrative certainty and explored how jealousy, desire, and insecurity distort perception. The minimalist set design, divided into two sections and unified through evocative lighting inspired by the 1970s, visually reinforced the emotional distance and unease between the characters. The cast featured Ninad Gahane as Amol, Om Deulkar as Bhaskar, Pratiksha Raut as Gita, and Prof Supantha Bhattacharyya as Harish, with each actor delivering a restrained and nuanced performance that effectively used silence and pauses as dramatic tools.

 

The production team included Mohit Sarkar, Avani Dhawankar, Alice Khan, Muskan Gupta, Akshat Bansole, Ankush Baghel, and Bhumika Borude, with special technical support provided by Ankush Patole and team. Host Lavina Khilrani proposed a vote of thanks.