Manjiri Matching Centre

"Manjiri, what a beautiful name! How did your parents come up with that?”
With this rather banal and boring question, often asked on dates, MANJIRI MATCHING CENTER follows a quest that leads the protagonist Manjiri on a poignant exploration of relationships, her search for identity, and the complexities of human connections.

The witty and humorous solo performance challenges traditional notions of childhood experiences, parenting, adulting, romance, marriage, and feminism, while simultaneously weaving a rich tapestry between past and present, anger and acceptance, love and loss…
MANJIRI MATCHING CENTER isn’t just about Manjiri, then… it’s a bit about all of us.

Credits :
Director – Jaimini Pathak
Assistant Director – Madhura Gokarn
Sound Designer – Mandar Kamlapurkar
Light Designer – Vikrant Thakar
Set Designer – Sachin Gaonkar
Movement Choreography – Maithily Bhupatkar

About Manjiri Pupala:
Manjiri Pupala is a graduate of St. Xavier’s College and holds a Master’s degree in Media Studies. She began her acting career on the English and Hindi theatre stages of Mumbai, working with renowned directors such as Sunil Shanbaug, Jaimini Pathak, Rajit Kapoor, Manav Kaul, and Vijaya Mehta.
In the early years of her career, Manjiri also immersed herself in regional Marathi commercial theatre, performing with some of the industry's most respected theatre companies. With over a decade of experience in theatre, her artistic journey has been deeply rooted in performance and storytelling.
Manjiri’s acting work has also extended to the screen, with appearances in various web series and films. Most recently, she was featured in the critically acclaimed 2025 film Superboys of Malegaon, directed by Reema Kagti. The film had its world premiere at TIFF 2024, and Manjiri’s portrayal of Trupti - a small-town actress received praise from international media. 

"Manjiri Matching Centre" marks her debut as a playwright. This play, two years in the making, represents a culmination of her experiences and artistic exploration. Though she began writing for films, her creative voice has been heavily influenced by iconic playwrights like Vijay Tendulkar and Girish Karnad.
She is a dedicated student of the Natyashastra, having studied under Venu G, and has completed several intensive phases of the Navarasa Sadhana programme at Natanakairali in Kerala. In addition, she has explored the art of clowning at a foundational level as part of her expanding skill set.