Kheyechish?

Kheyechish?—“Ate?”—is her mother’s daily question, usually met with a groan.
But today, the truth spills out: “I haven’t eaten all day… or days.”
With a monthly income of ₹18,000, ₹11,500 goes toward rent, and the remaining is stretched thin across groceries, commute, and unpaid rehearsals—where dinner is often the only guaranteed meal.
But tonight, there is no rehearsal. No dinner. Just another evening in a city that demands everything and gives very little in return.
It’s been a year since she last ate Alu Posto and Phena Bhaat, two famine-born dishes that carry the memory of hunger through generations. She goes to the store, carefully selecting only what’s necessary. But when the bill is tallied, she sighs, shakes her head, and quietly walks away, empty-handed.

Later, as she cooks—this time in front of an audience—she tells the story: 

Retelling the story, she cooks for the audience: “If I stop showing up where food is laid out, they may think I don’t need anything. But if I come and can’t buy, they’ll know how it is.”

This piece sits at the intersection of theatre, storytelling, oral history, and shared ritual. It explores not only hunger for food, but also for dignity, recognition, and community. 'Kheyechish?' is inspired by Brecht's poem The Shopper and was developed with Niloufer Sagar Drama School Mumbai Alumni Production Grant.

You should attend this show, because...:
...because it is your story — served with food cooked live on stage. 
...and because Nirmik is not just a venue, it is a movement. A space where theatre meets Ambedkarite spirit.

Creator/Performer:
Meghna Roy Choudhury
With 24 years of Bharatanatyam training and a Physics master’s degree, I bring my interdisciplinary artistry to this production. I’ve trained in Kalaripayattu, performed in five languages across genres, and collaborated with NGOs through Theatre in Education.
Meghna is passionate about exploring innovative storytelling techniques and reinventing theatrical aesthetics. Her work aims to discover a unique theatrical language that resonates with her cultural and artistic roots. In her directorial debut, The Apology, she seamlessly blends the vocabulary of Indian classical art forms with theatre, creating a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation. 
Her dedication has been recognized with prestigious accolades, including the DSFM Niloufer Sagar Alumni Production Grant (2023 and 2024) and the Parivartan Annual Grant (2024-25). She is an INLAKS Theatre Awards Recipient this year.

Team:
Written and Directed by: Meghna Roy Choudhury
Dramaturgy by: Siddhesh Purkar
Performed by: Meghna Roy Choudhury & Dhanesh Gopalakrishnan
Light designed by: Rahul Rai
Light operated by: Utkarshh Babbar
Sound designed and operated by: Sagar Dahale
Set designed by: Ravi Choudhary
Mentored by: Akshay Gandhi
Poster designed by: Aakriti Chandravanshi