Have you ever wondered what happens to the stories we aren’t allowed to tell? In If lanterns could talk!they take the shape of a shirt And a slipper. Directed by Usman Ghani of Hyderabad-based Red Turtle Collective in collaboration with Lighthouse Theatre, the performance reimagines an old folktale collected by AK Ramanujan. It has been reworked to reflect current realities – questions of caste, love, marriage, control, censorship and the burdens people carry.

Usman Ghani Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Our work grows from a deep commitment to craft and collaboration and the belief that theater can move, question and connect,” says Osman, who first staged a shorter version of the play during his Master in Performing Arts at Pondicherry University.

The first 40-minute production has now expanded to a 70-minute piece, rooted in a rich physical theater language. It is a blend of classical dance styles, Kalaripayattu, classical music, shadow puppetry and traditional acting methods. He added, “These elements are deeply integrated into the storytelling, allowing emotions, memories and internal conflicts to be revealed through motion, rhythm and image as well as text.”

when emotions are suppressed

Rehearsal session Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In Telugu folklore, idiom Deepam Kondekkindi (‘The lamp has been extinguished’) suggests that the lamps travel to a mountain temple to share the stories of the families to which they belong. Osman builds on this idea, imagining lanterns gathering from different houses to exchange what they have seen, only to reflect on an even more unstable present.

In If Lanterns Could Talk!, It becomes a medium to explore what happens when emotion-laden stories are not heard, but rather suppressed. “The traditional folktale has been reimagined to speak to the anxieties and silences of today’s world,” says Osman. “At its core, the play asks what happens when our stories remain buried for too long.”

Actor in drama Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

With a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Andhra University, Usman moved to theater to pursue his passion. He describes his eight-year journey as rewarding and diverse, spanning numerous presentations and workshops for children. “My focus is to help kids develop life skills,” he says.

If Lanterns Could Talk will be staged at Rangbhoomi Space, Serilingampally and Chauraha Auditorium, Our Sacred Space, Secunderabad; 17 and 18 April; Tickets: Bookmyshow and at the venue.