LOTTARY
Original Story: Lottery by Munshi Premchand
Stage Adaptation & Director: Brijesh Tiwari
Producer: Drama Dropouts
Genre: Satirical Comedy · Social Drama
Language: Hindi
Duration: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
ABOUT THE PLAY
Lottery is a theatrical adaptation inspired by Munshi Premchand’s celebrated short story of the same name. While remaining faithful to the original narrative and its enduring social commentary, this production expands the story with new characters, situations, and theatrical moments that enrich its dramatic and comic possibilities.
At its heart lies a timeless question: Can the dream of sudden wealth outweigh love, trust, and human relationships? What begins as the excitement surrounding a single lottery ticket gradually transforms an ordinary household into a place of suspicion, rivalry, greed, and fragile expectations. As the possibility of fortune grows, so too do the emotional distances between those who were once united.
Among the play’s most memorable figures is Jhakkad Baba, an eccentric mystic whose strange beliefs and unpredictable nature become a powerful symbol of blind faith and humanity’s endless pursuit of easy fortune. Through humour and irony, his presence exposes how quickly hope can give way to superstition and obsession.
To deepen the theatrical experience, this adaptation introduces Choti Thakurain and Master Sahab’s Mama, whose presence adds warmth, wit, and emotional complexity to the story. Alongside Bade Thakur, Chote Thakur, and the rest of the household, they create a richly layered portrait of a family whose relationships are gradually tested by ambition, insecurity, and the illusion of instant prosperity.
Blending satire, comedy, and heartfelt family drama, Lottery remains true to Premchand’s timeless vision while offering a fresh and engaging theatrical experience for contemporary audiences. It is a poignant reminder that while wealth may tempt the human mind, the true measure of prosperity has always been found in trust, compassion, and the relationships we choose to protect.
Director's Note
Munshi Premchand’s stories possess a rare simplicity, yet beneath that simplicity lies a profound understanding of human nature. His characters feel familiar, their dilemmas echo our own, and their joys and flaws continue to resonate across generations. Perhaps that is why his work remains as relevant today as it was when it was first written.
Lottery is no exception. At first glance, it appears to be a humorous tale centred around a lottery ticket and the dreams it inspires. Yet, beneath its comedy lies a subtle exploration of human desire, greed, hope, and the extraordinary influence that imagined wealth can have on ordinary lives. Premchand reminds us that sometimes it is not money itself, but the illusion of it, that transforms relationships, behaviour, and perspective.
Bringing Lottery to the stage has been an immensely rewarding journey. While adapting the story for theatre, we introduced a few new scenes and theatrical moments—not to alter Premchand’s vision, but to enrich it for the stage and create a more engaging experience for a live audience. Every addition was guided by the spirit of the original story while embracing the possibilities of performance.
The rehearsal process became an exploration of each character’s smallest details—their gestures, speech, ambitions, vulnerabilities, humour, and hidden desires. Gradually, these characters evolved beyond the written page, becoming living, breathing individuals whose stories could genuinely connect with an audience.
What inspires me most about Premchand is his honesty. He never preaches; instead, he simply holds a mirror to society and invites us to recognise ourselves within it. His stories remind us that the most powerful narratives are born from the everyday lives of ordinary people.
For me, theatre has always been more than entertainment. It is an opportunity to inspire reflection, conversation, and empathy. If Lottery leaves audiences smiling while quietly encouraging them to reflect on their own aspirations, relationships, and values, then our purpose as storytellers will have been fulfilled.
— Brijesh Tiwari
Writer's Note
Adapting Munshi Premchand’s Lottery for the stage was both a privilege and a responsibility. Premchand’s writing possesses a remarkable simplicity, yet beneath that simplicity lies an extraordinary understanding of human nature. The greatest challenge was not to rewrite his story, but to discover its theatrical heartbeat while remaining faithful to its spirit.
This adaptation preserves the essence of Premchand’s original narrative while introducing a few new characters, situations, and dramatic moments that naturally extend the world of the story. Characters such as Choti Thakurain and Master Sahab’s Mama were created to deepen relationships, enrich the humour, and offer new perspectives without disturbing the integrity of the original work. Every addition was guided by a single intention—to make the story more vibrant for the stage while honouring Premchand’s timeless vision.
At its core, Lottery is not merely about the possibility of winning wealth; it is about the subtle transformation that the hope of wealth creates within people. Long before anyone becomes rich, relationships begin to change, trust begins to weaken, and imagination slowly gives way to greed. That quiet psychological journey remains as relevant today as it was nearly a century ago.
Theatre has the unique ability to bring literature into a shared, living experience. Through performance, silence, laughter, and human interaction, stories begin to breathe in ways that the written page alone cannot achieve. It is my hope that this adaptation allows audiences to rediscover Premchand—not only as one of India’s greatest storytellers, but as a writer whose understanding of human nature continues to speak directly to our times.
If this production encourages audiences to laugh, reflect, and recognise a little of themselves within these characters, then this adaptation will have fulfilled its purpose.
— Brijesh Tiwari
Adaptation & Script
CAST
Vikram — Shobhit Gangwar
Sunder Lal — Aman Gupta
Prakash — Lav Tomar
Kunti — Siddhi Rastogi / Shubha Bhatt Bhasin
Bade Thakur — Raju Chauhan
Chote Thakur — Pankaj Kumar Maurya
Mama — Ritik/ Sparsh patel
Badi Thakurain — Neelam
Madhu — Jhalak Gangwar / Aashi
Jhakkad Baba — Maneesh Ratn
Pandit — Ayush Agarwal
Dancer — Ishita Gangwar
Creative Team
Director — Brijesh Tiwari
Co-Director — Shubha Bhatt Bhasin
Producer — Drama Dropouts
Stage Manager — Maneesh Ratn
Set Design & Construction — Aman Gupta, Ayush Agarwal & Muneesh Ratn
Lighting — Pankaj Kumar Maurya, Shobhit & Sparsh Patel
Sound Operation — Abhishek Rajoriya
Costume Design — Aashi & Jhalak Gangwar
Backstage Crew
Jhalak Gangwar, Ishita Gangwar, Aashi & Shrey/
Technical Requirements
LIGHTING
- Profile Spotlights (300W, 36°) — 10
- Fresnel Lights (300W) — 16
- RGB LED PAR Lights — 12
- PAR Can Lights (1KW) — 6
SOUND
- 4-Foot Floor Microphone — 1