‘Saanp Seedhi' play preview: Sumeet Vyas and Kumud Mishra star in this remake of ‘Sleuth'

The Hindu

06-05-2025

Aadyam Theatre's latest offering, Saanp Seedhi, promises Bengaluru audiences an edge-of-the-seat experience. Adapted from Anthony Shaffer's Tony Award-winning psychological thriller Sleuth, the Hindi play is directed by Shubhrajyoti Barat and stars Kumud Mishra and Sumeet Vyas. After a successful run in Delhi, it is set to play at Ranga Shankara on May 9 and 10.
At its heart, Saanp Seedhi is a lethal game of manipulation and deception between two men: a flamboyant film producer, Anil Wadhwa (played by Kumud), and his wife's lover, Mayank Tiwari (Sumeet). Set against the backdrop of Anil's sprawling, slightly surreal home in Goa, what starts as a seemingly civil confrontation soon spirals into a dangerous psychological battle where nothing is quite what it seems.
For director Shubhrajyoti, Sleuth was a play that had lived rent-free in his mind for years. 'As a director or anyone involved in theatre, there are always plays you keep returning to,' he says. 'When Aadyam gave me the platform, it felt like the perfect time to bring it to life, especially with actors like Kumud and Sumeet on board.'
But Shubhrajyoti was clear from the start that he did not want a mere translation; he wanted an adaptation that felt rooted in Indian soil. Collaborating with playwright Akarsh Khurana, the team reimagined Shaffer's aristocratic British world into something more recognisably Indian. 'Instead of the original's mystery novelist, Anil is now a B-grade film producer who has climbed up the ladder. This adds complexity to his character, a self-made man whose ego and insecurities play out in fascinating ways,' he explains.
Visually, too, Saanp Seedhi tries to experiment. The set, Shubhrajyoti says, is designed with a backdrop of the sky and intentionally unfinished walls and ceiling, creating a liminal space that mirrors the characters' unraveling psyches. 'It's like the house could meet infinity or fall apart at any moment,' he says. 'We also use a puppet as a silent observer, adding an extra layer of tension.'
For Sumeet, stepping into the shoes of Mayank Tiwari was a long-awaited moment. 'I had read Sleuth years ago and was supposed to perform it back then, but it didn't happen,' he says. 'So, when this opportunity came along, I felt both excited and relieved.' His character, Mayank, is more than just the 'other man.' 'He appears earnest and straightforward, but there's another side to him — a deep-seated reaction to bullying that makes him unpredictable. He's not just a victim; he takes action, and that makes him interesting to play.'
Despite a busy career across web series and film, Sumeet says returning to theatre was both thrilling and nerve-racking. 'I haven't opened a new play in almost a decade, so I was really excited to get back to rehearsals, make mistakes, and rediscover that process. It's the good kind of nervousness,' he admits.
Both Sumeet and Shubhrajyoti highlight the strong bond between the cast, especially the dynamic between Sumeet and Kumud. Having worked together before, their friendship adds a layer of trust and freedom on stage.
Shubhrajyoti, who has known both actors personally for years, says directing close friends brought its own set of challenges. 'It can be awkward shifting from friend to director, but with actors of this calibre, you don't have to micromanage. It's more about guiding the characters' arcs while trusting their instincts,' he says.
Shubhrajyoti feels the thriller is an underexplored genre on the Indian stage made it especially appealing. 'Thrillers are rarely done in theatre, and that scarcity was part of the attraction. A well-written script like this almost directs itself. You just need to represent it honestly, and it does the rest,' he says.
The 90-minute Hindi play is for ages 15 and above. Catch it on May 9 and 10 at 7.30pm at Ranga Shankara. Tickets on BookMyShow.