Mahesh Dattani

Mahesh Dattani is a renowned Indian playwright, director, and screenwriter known for his work in English theatre. He is the first playwright in English to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, India's highest literary honor. His plays often explore contemporary social issues and the complexities of human relationships.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Collected Plays

    The collection features a diverse array of plays that delve into the complexities of contemporary Indian society, exploring themes such as gender, sexuality, and identity. Through compelling narratives and rich character development, the plays address social issues like the stigma surrounding homosexuality, the struggles of women in patriarchal settings, and the generational conflicts within Indian families. The playwright's keen insight into human emotions and societal norms is evident, offering a thought-provoking examination of the cultural and personal dilemmas faced by individuals in a rapidly changing world.

    The 17010th Greatest Book of All Time
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  2. 2. Dance Like A Man

    A husband-and-wife team of classical dancers confronts the collision of artistic ambition and social expectation as their shared dream erodes under patriarchy, compromise and family pressures; the play traces how personal sacrifices, jealousy and generational tensions destroy trust and identity while probing tradition, gender roles and the cost of choosing respectability over creativity.

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