This is the second part of the Special Mention List (the first part can be read here) compiled by our resident theatre analyst Vikram Phukan to acknowledge performances from plays that displayed the gumption to spearhead the return to theatres in an uncertain year.

A disclaimer: this is not a definitive list, there is an inadvertent Mumbai skew, and takes into consideration only fairly recent productions.

Year-end lists are meant to come out around the new year, but this month does mark a year since lockdown restrictions were lifted in April 2022, after the second wave. That is as good a reason as any to take time out to acknowledge performances from plays that displayed the gumption to spearhead the return to theatres in an uncertain year. Our resident theatre analyst Vikram Phukan calls it the Special Mention List (which we will present in two parts consisting of 8 performers each), and he has been compiling these since 2012.

While this is in no way an exhaustive account of performance in India nor is it any kind of top-of-the-pops, we do hope it reminds us all to tell more stories and go to the theatre more often.

February’s spotlight features Ukulele with Luv, an initiative by Pune-based musician and music teacher Luv Mahtani. What started out as a one-of-a-kind ukelele class five years ago has now evolved into an active community for people of all ages to bond over music and the joy of performance.

We bring you snippets from a conversation between Luv Mahtani and Sanjana Arun about the birth of Ukulele With Love, their collective experiences surrounding music, performing arts, and the experiences and nuances of teaching.