EVIL EYE

by Madhuri Shekar

a play reading on Zoom (RSVP link)

May 16, 2020

Usha is convinced that the evil eye, a curse that brings continuous misfortune, was cast upon her daughter, Pallavi, in the womb. What else could have possibly left her driven, career-oriented daughter edging closer and closer to 30 without a prospective husband? Determined to set Pallavi on the right path, Usha arranges date after date with potential suitors—but after yet another setup fails, it seems her efforts are proving fruitless. But in an unexpected turn of events, Pallavi becomes her own matchmaker when she meets—and quickly falls for—Sandeep, a young Indian-American entrepreneur. And though she expects her mother will be elated with her finally finding a man, Pallavi is distraught and confused to find her mother growing increasingly suspicious of Sandeep’s motives…and his true identity.

Told through a series of phone calls and voicemails, the narrative of the play transitions seamlessly from a light-hearted family dramedy to an unexpectedly supernatural thriller. With an endearing cast of well-rounded characters, sharp, natural dialogue, and a shocking edge-of-your-seat climax, Evil Eye is a can’t-miss tale about cultural miscommunications, family secrets, and the lingering echoes of trauma.

Evil Eye received an Audie Award for Original Work in 2020.

The cast of Evil Eye on Zoom (clockwise from top left) Sanjay Kumar, Vaishnavi Sridhar, Dilip Ratnam, Basab Pradhan (director) Varun Arvind and Hiranmayi Srinivasan. Produced by Venkateshwar Kottapalli (not in the photo).