Actor Ali Fazal is stepping into a powerful new role, that of presenting a play. For the first time, Fazal is presenting a play titled Mahanagar Jugnu, a compelling stage production written and directed by celebrated playwright Amitosh Nagpal. The production will be staged as part of Le’ Chakallas, a dynamic fringe festival that celebrates unfiltered art, fearless voices, and radical creativity. Produced by Ravi Srivastava at Artisan Coterie and presented by Mandali Talkies × Artisan Coterie, the week-long festival promises an immersive cultural experience that blurs the boundaries between artist and audience.
Born out of rebellion, curiosity, and community, Le’ Chakallas transforms its venue into a living playground for artistic expression. The festival features an eclectic mix of theatre performances, poetry, storytelling, stand-up comedy, rap battles, beatboxing, open mics, music gigs, full-scale concerts, coffee raves, workshops, food pop-ups, and artisan markets. Every corner becomes a site for collaboration, discovery, and dialogue. The festival is first of its kind running in Mumbai between 25th Feb to 1st March where an array of unique performances and workshops will be part of the schedule including theatre, book readings, poetry sessions, book launches and workshops. Many other unique titles are set to be part of the festival including Dastangoi, Jo Dooba So Paar, Qiseebaazi, a standup act by Varun Grover and many other such unique programming.
At the heart of this electric gathering is Mahanagar Jugnu, a stirring theatrical experience that captures the pulse, poetry, and contradictions of urban existence. Speaking about his association, Ali Fazal shares, “Theatre has always been my first love, it’s where I learned to listen, to observe, and to truly inhabit a character. Turning presneter for Mahanagar Jugnu feels like coming full circle. Amitosh has written something that is deeply intimate yet universally resonant. Le’ Chakallas, with its spirit of rebellion and community, is the perfect home for a story like this. I’m excited to back voices that challenge, provoke, and move audiences in a way only live performance can.”