About the Production
The Thumb is a new, rigorous English-language theatre production by Our Theatre Collective (Founded in 2009, Registered Trust since 2021).
The play revisits the foundational Eklavya and Dronacharya episode from the Mahabharata. Rather than a simple retelling, it is a contemporary, sharp inquiry into authority, systems, discipline, and choice. At the exact threshold where Drona demands the thumb, the play suspends time to explore four parallel trajectories of human response.
Does action arise from free will, inherited pattern, fear, or systemic pressure. Through these parallel explorations, the play examines causality, freedom, and the subtle forces that persuade individuals that they “must” act in a certain way.

Our Journey So Far: Phase 1 Completed 
The project has been in active development since July 2025. We successfully completed Phase 1 in March–April 2026, where the entire ensemble spent 22 intensive days on the floor.
During this phase, we brought together all our cross-country collaborators—including our co-director from Manipur, sound designer, and musicians—to deeply explore, test, and anchor the unique physical form and intercultural language of the play.By bringing together specialist artists and collaborators from Manipur, Kolkata, Delhi, and Kerala, the production bridges diverse regional perspectives, performance disciplines, and sonic traditions. This cross-cultural meeting infuses the work with a rare aesthetic rigor, anchoring a deeply nuanced and artistic dialogue right on our floor. We completely exhausted ₹1,50,000 from our own lean reserves to realise that crucial structural foundation.

The performance language bridges classical Indian traditions with contemporary themes:

• Drona’s narrative is inspired by the playful storytelling of Ottamthullal and the backward-structuring Nirvahanam of Kutiyattam.
• Eklavya’s character draws from the stillness of Kutiyattam.
• The Ensemble ("The Collective") builds a powerful sonic and visual score heavily shaped by Kalakshetra Manipur training practices.
• The Soundscape creates live tension through the live meeting of the Edakka (Kerala) and the Dotara (Bengal) among other instruments 

Moving into Phase 2: Bringing the Production to Stage (Goal: ₹6,50,000)
We are now entering Phase 2 of the project, which is completely focused on consolidating the text, integrating music, designing costumes and stagecraft, and fully realising the production on stage. The Thumb is set to premiere publicly at Ranga Shankara on September 4 & 5, 2026.
While the total long-term budget to completely mount and tour this production is ₹15,00,000, our immediate, vital requirement right now to see the play through rehearsals and onto the stage for its premiere is ₹6,50,000. Without these funds to sustain our immediate production logistics and support our artists, the work cannot move forward. 

Sustaining Our Artistic Practice
As an independent collective, creating work of this scale requires relentless effort. Alongside this crowdfunding campaign, we continue to actively reach out to individual patrons, apply for institutional grants, and conduct specialized corporate/public workshops and training programs (like our upcoming TouchPoint sessions). Every bit of revenue generated from these efforts goes directly toward funding this play, keeping our studio doors open, and sustaining our ongoing ensemble practice.
By contributing to this campaign, you are directly supporting the ecosystem that allows this kind of rigorous, independent art to survive.

The Team 
Written by Vivekanand Vishwanathan & Vivek Vijayakumaran
Directed by Vivek Vijayakumaran
Co-Directed by Pangambam Tyson Meitei
Assistant Director: Pramiti Digra

Actors:
Sachin Dev
Nuhar Bansal
Abhitej Gupta
Krishna Priya
Skanda Ghate
Vivek Vijayakumaran

Sound Design: Chaoba Thiyam
Edakka Player: Aditya
DoTara Player: Swastik
Lights Design: Manju Narayan
Scenography: Sarthak Narula


Where is your money going? (Phase 2 Rehearsal & Premiere Budget)
As outlined below, every single rupee raised directly fuels the final leg of creation: 

• Cast & Crew Fees: 6 Devising Actors, Director, Co-Director, Asst. Director, Production Manager, 2 Writers, Costume Designer- ₹ 3,10,000 
• Technical & Design Team: Sound Design, Light Design & Execution, Scenographer- ₹ 50,000
• Musicians: Live musicians playing the Do Taara and Edakya- ₹ 20,000
• Travel & Logistics: Inter-state travel flights (3 Manipur + 1 Delhi) and trains (Kerala & Kolkata) for collaborators, local conveyance- ₹ 1,05,000
• Production & Execution: Costume, Stage Design Execution, Sound Execution, Sound Mixing + Mastering- ₹ 80,000
• Venue & Show Costs: Auditorium Booking at Ranga Shankara for 3 Premiere Shows- ₹ 20,000 
• Marketing & Documentation: Marketing creatives, run documentation (Photos & Videos)- ₹ 30,000
• Hospitality & Contingency: Food for the ensemble and buffer for miscellaneous expenses- ₹ 35,000 

• TOTAL TARGET- ₹6,50,000 

How You Can Support Us

1. Contribute: No amount is too small. Every contribution brings our ensemble closer to the stage.
2. Share: Share this Milaap link on your WhatsApp groups, Instagram, and LinkedIn networks. Word of mouth builds communities.

We are deeply grateful for your presence, your belief in independent ensemble practice, and your support in bringing The Thumb to life.

Stand with us. Support independent theatre.  

Note: Our Theatre Collective is a legally registered trust (Reg No: MLS-4-00157-2021-22). All transactions are transparent.