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‘Ottam - Born to Run’
Venue
The Studio Theatre
Date
November 09, 2025
Showtime
20:00
Duration
2 h (includes a 15-min intermission)
Venue Highlights
Suitable for ages 12+
Written and directed by Sapan Saran, this is the story of Akai Amaran, a runner from rural Tamil Nadu whose fight against caste and class prejudice collides with the brutal reality of gender testing in athletics.
At the heart of this drama, written and directed by Sapan Saran and produced by Tamaasha Theatre, lies the story of Akai Amaran, a young Paraiyar girl from rural Tamil Nadu who defies caste and class barriers to emerge as one of India’s leading 800-metre runners. Just as her victories bring her into the national spotlight, she is forced to undergo a gender test, an ordeal that threatens to dismantle everything she has fought for.
Akai’s journey exposes how sex and gender are defined, dissected, and policed in sport, where the body is relentlessly scrutinised. Her triumphs unsettle entrenched social binaries and reveal the prejudices embedded in athletic institutions, the media, online discourse, and even her own family.
Blending a deeply personal narrative with a wider sociological lens, ‘Ottam’ invites audiences to question the structures that govern identity, fairness, and belonging. Ultimately, Akai’s race is not only on the track but against the limits imposed by society, reminding us, in her own words, that “in any race, what’s of utmost importance is…to go on running”.
Language
Hindi
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