The world is brimming with stories of courage and resilience. While many go unheard and unsung, a few do make it to the spotlight in the form of a book, a movie, or even a play. One such story is Ananya - A Journey beyond Imagination — an inspiring journey of an ordinary girl with extraordinary dreams. 

Ananya is a brilliant student and achiever, known for her confidence, charm, and beauty. Her future looks bright — with a promising career and an engagement to a wealthy man who falls in love with her. But a tragic accident turns her world upside down. Hopes dim, relationships crumble, and the people who once cheered her now begin to see her as a burden.

The play, written and directed by Pratap Phad and produced by Sejal Dipak Painter, features well-known television, film and theatre actor Shweta Gulati in the titular role, aptly supported by Chitrashi Rawat, Atul Tiwari, Mustafa Burmawala, Savant Singh Premi, and Siddharth Bodke.

Ananya, says Pratap, is inspired by “a real life story. A few years ago, I read a Marathi book that had two stories of women — one about a cancer survivor, the other about a girl like Ananya. I took the premise of Ananya from the book, fictionalised it and wrote the play. I wanted to tell the story of this girl, who is living somewhere in the world, and wanted to tell it in my own way,” says Pratap.

The drama unfolds against a backdrop of an extravagant, detailed stage set, devoid of live music, dance, or stylisation, and presents a realistic portrayal. Shweta’s power‑packed performance as Ananya — a young woman who loses her hands in an accident embodies both fragility and the ferocity of the human psyche.

The story unfolds through dialogue, acting and recorded sound effects. “We have ensured, the play does not come across as preachy,” points out Pratap. “Instead, it delivers a piercing truth: those tested by life’s harshest blows cannot even afford the luxury of brooding. They must fight relentlessly, simply to be seen and accepted beyond their disabilities and challenges. Here, resilience is not a choice but the very condition of survival — where survival itself transforms into a tale of triumph.”

Despite being a tale of survival, Ananya, reveals the director, does not lean into sentimentality nor collapse into being a tear‑jerker. “Instead, it brims with laughter, sarcasm, and moments of cheer.” He also shares that the audience has applauded the scenes where the protagonist overcomes the smallest challenges using her feet — working on a laptop, brushing her teeth or learning to fold a blanket with her feet. And one particular scene that unfailingly draws thunderous applause is the scene where she crawls across the floor, using her feet to blast the fire extinguisher, putting out a blaze in her kitchen. The sudden realisation that her feet can now function as her hands lands with the greatest force.

Just like its protagonist, the play itself has had a journey of its own. First staged in 2009–2010 as a one‑act play, it grew into a full‑length Marathi stage production in 2017. The commercial success of the Marathi play paved the way for Ananya to be made into a Marathi film in 2022 with the same name. “A leading Marathi film producer asked me if I could adapt the story for the big screen. For me, it meant the narrative could inspire more people,” shares Pratap, who was later asked to adapt the same into a Hindi play. This, he says, was a challenge, as he had to train a new set of Hindi‑speaking actors for the production and praises Shweta for all the hard work she has put in for the portrayal of Ananya.

The production, adds Pratap, also leans into a digital spectacle — especially to depict the wedding of Ananya in the ending, “which is projected on a screen”. But, wouldn’t that break the fourth wall of theatre, distracting the audience from pure theatrical elements of making do with what you have, transforming limitation into imagination?

Pratap agrees, “Some cinematic elements had to be brought in keeping in mind the commercial aspects of the play too,” yet he insists the emotional purity of the story remains intact. “Ananya’s journey could have ended with her passing her exam with distinction, or simply at the point where she gets a job. But, I felt her chance at love and marriage would encompass the fullness of life. And with such an emotional story, one has to keep the mood a little light, else the narrative can lean heavily into a morose tone.”

For a theatre director, it is always a tightrope walk — balancing pure theatrical elements and the lure of the commercial. The challenge lies in enjoying creative freedom while keeping an eye on what ensures a play’s success.

Shweta has been hailed for her portrayal of Ananya. “It took several months of demanding physical training that left me with elbow strain. Yet it has been worth it. Ananya is one of the most difficult and rewarding roles of my career,” she says.

Pratap sums it up aptly: “Ananya reminds us not only of resilience, courage and the art of reclaiming life, but also urges us to see strength where others see limitation.”

The play will be staged at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, Chennai, on June 7, 5p.m. Tickets on BookMyShow.