This is why we don’t get to see many one-man shows in Kannada second second WeMove Theater stands out in more ways than just that. The play, an adaptation of a Chinese short story translated into Kannada by writer Gopalakrishna Pai, has been adapted for theater by playwright and director Abhishek Iyengar. second secondStarring Anirudh Mahesh (one of the writers) Kanthara: Chapter 1), involves introspection of an event that occurred in the character’s past and his or her reaction to it.
With peppy music in the background that sounds like an old school Kannada poem, the play follows a man who, on the verge of fulfilling his lofty dreams, is forced to change his future in a second due to an accident.
Following is his recovery in the hospital and his reaction to the incident. This is done by examining each incident leading up to the accident and what the person could have done to prevent it.
The scene when the actor thanks his tote bag for keeping all his documents together is a funny commentary on the essence of a mundane human experience. Anirudh Mahesh presents in a poignant manner of man (The man’s) realness, making the audience feel like he is everyone, and it can happen to anyone. He says the universality of the play is clear and Abhishek was expecting the same reaction.
“We often say, “Second second iru, second second call madatini, second second barthini” (Wait a second, I will call you in a second, I will be there in a second),” Abhishek said, speaking from his home in Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru.. ””‘One second’ is important, but we use it carelessly, without fully understanding its power. Most often, it’s just another second lost to history, but sometimes, it causes something so significant that it makes us return to that moment again and again. I wanted to show the importance of that one second, and let the audience reflect on what it meant to them.
“Many people who have seen the play have said that it resonates with them on different levels,” says Abhishek.
second second Recently performed at Ranga Shankara, Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The play has some generic characters, all played by Anirudh including a narrator who sometimes breaks the fourth wall, the main character, a doctor, a friend and a student. “I wanted to break the monotony. So we thought Anirudh could give different voices and play all the characters.”
The writer-director says that another reason for experimenting with this format was to direct a play where all the props could be easily transported. However, challenges remain, he admits.
“Theatre is a collaborative art, and being a mono-act, second second Expresses only one point of view. To make it multidimensional, I had to bring in the audience and work with their reactions. “I have never been this experimental before.”
Also Read: WeMove Theatre’s Kannada play ‘Sambandhgala Sutta’ highlights various relationships of women
Mono-acting is every actor’s dream, says Anirudh
Anirudh, who has been associated with theater since 2012, always wanted to do a mono-act as he believes it is every actor’s dream. Speaking from WeMove’s rehearsal space in Jayanagar, he says, “When there are multiple actors, it is easier to convey emotions to the audience. When it is just one actor, it is difficult because it is my voice alone on the stage, even though there are small differences in tone and modulation.”
Theater is happiness for Anirudh. Stay connected with big Kannada projects including Kanthara: A Legend Chapter 1, Laughing Buddha, Avane Srimannarayana, 777 charlieThe theater is the home to which he returns. “Acting on stage is like drinking water when I’m thirsty. I can explore many aspects of a subject on stage. Take this play for example, we decided to move the focus away from props and sets and explore this story through emotions and dialogues.”
Anirudh opened up about the challenges of being the only artiste on stage. “There’s no one to prompt me to move on to the next scene. I have to map out the stage by looking at properties, not people, and that’s not easy at all. We went through many rehearsals, trying and testing what worked and what didn’t.”
Regarding staging the play again in April, both Abhishek and Anirudh say that monoact is not easy from financial and acting point of view. While Abhishek says that it is not easy to fill the auditorium with audiences by relying on one person, Anirudh says that the pressure of performing on stage as the only actor is more. Abhishek says, “I think people consider it a risk and don’t do it. We wanted to break this perception, that’s why we did this.”
published – January 28, 2026 07:54 am IST