The Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards or META-2024 announced its winners across various categories, with play Raghunath emerging as the top honouree, clinching five out of six awards. Bidyut Kr Nath secured Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Script, Best Production, and Best Stage Design awards for Raghunath, while Gautam Saikia was lauded for Best Light Design.
The award for Best Sound & Music Design went to Do You Know This Song? (Chayan Adhikari and Bindhu Malini N), and Hayavadana (Melodi Dorcas) bagged the accolade for Best Costume Design.
Tarun Bhattacharya was recognised as Best Actor in a Supporting Role (male) for Gopal Ure & Co, while Nibedita Mukhopadhyay (Gopal Ure & Co) and Pallavi Jadho (Hayavadana) shared the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (female) award.
Mallika Taneja and Mallika Singh Hanspal jointly received the Best Actor in a Lead Role (Female) award for Do You Know This Song? and Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta Ghanta, respectively.
The Best Choreography award was bestowed upon Maisnam Joy Meetei & Mehak for Agnisuta Draupadi, and Hayavadana clinched the Best Ensemble award. Renowned actor, director, and former director of the National School of Drama, Ram Gopal Bajaj, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
The jury for META comprised Indian theatre luminaries such as Dolly Thakore, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Mahesh Dattani, Raghuvir Yadav, Smriti Rajgarhia, and Vinay Pathak.
META, presented by the Mahindra Group and produced by Teamwork Arts, received over 390 entries representing diverse languages including Assamese, Bangla, English, Hindi, Hindustani, Malayalam, and Marathi.
Jay Shah, Vice President & Head, Cultural Outreach, Mahindra Group, emphasised the importance of recognising excellence in Indian theatre, while Sanjoy K Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts & Festival Producer, highlighted Indian theatre’s diversity and its ability to reflect societal challenges and aspirations.
