The perfect beginning to 2026 ❤️

 Some experiences don’t arrive loudly. They enter quietly and stay. This workshop was one such experience for me - gentle, intense, and deeply personal.

From 29th to 31st December, I had the opportunity to attend a three-day theatre workshop conducted by the genius playwright and director Mahesh Dattani. Until then, he was a name I had known only through textbooks and exam syllabi. Meeting him in person, learning under him and eventually performing in a play directed by him felt unreal. On 1st January, I watched Yogi vs Bhogi by his troupe and performed in the play Vidhi, written by G. Sankara Pillai, under Dattani sir’s direction. It felt like the most meaningful way to begin a new year.

I genuinely had a lot of fun during the workshop. I woke up every day excited to learn something new. We were introduced to Michael Chekhov’s techniques, especially Staccato and Legato. Staccato was sharp, quick, and energetic, while Legato was smooth, continuous, and flowing. Slowly, I realised these weren’t just movement qualities. We were encouraged to apply them while speaking and acting as well. The way a line changed simply by altering its rhythm and flow surprised me.

We explored archetypal gestures like push, pull, drag, dominate, rise, penetrate, gather, and reveal. At first, they felt like simple actions. But they turned out to be emotionally powerful. We were asked to prepare for a gesture, perform it, and then hold it in complete stillness. That stillness did something unexpected to me. Emotion surfaced quietly, without effort. I wasn’t trying to feel anything; it just happened.

Dattani sir said something that stayed with me. He reminded us that the body holds memories and that gestures can trigger emotions stored within us. But he also emphasised that as actors, we shouldn’t be carried away by emotion. Feeling deeply matters, but being able to step back, overcome the emotion, and stay aware matters just as much. That balance felt important - not only for performance, but for life.

Along with this, we worked with sensations of falling, balancing and rising, and experimented with moving like the elements - water, earth, fire and air. We worked within time limits, which pushed me to trust my instincts and stay present instead of overthinking. We also did voice exercises and breathing practices.

What stood out to me the most was how kind and encouraging Dattani sir was. He appreciated us whenever we did something well, gave us thoughtful feedback and gently corrected us when needed. He made learning feel completely free and without strain. Nothing felt forced or overwhelming. Everything flowed so naturally. That ease felt almost unreal. It made learning feel safe and stress-free. It made me want to try, fail and try again without fear.

I don’t really plan to pursue theatre professionally. But this workshop gave me takeaways I know I’ll carry far beyond the stage.

The first page of my diary is about these days - the workshop, the play by his troupe and the play we performed under his direction. 

Some beginnings deserve to be written down before they fade into routine.

This workshop reminded me that learning doesn’t always have to be loud or life-altering. Sometimes, it simply teaches you how to stand still, breathe and listen to your body and to yourself.