
Hyderabad theatre: The play ‘If Lanterns Could Talk!’ explores caste, love and silence

Telling the story through shadow puppetry
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Did you ever wonder what happens to stories we are not allowed to tell? In If Lanterns Could Talk!, they take the shape of a kurta and a chappal. Directed by Hyderabad-based Osman Ghani of Red Turtle Collective, in collaboration with Lighthouse Theatre, the performance reimagines an old folktale collected by A. K. Ramanujan. It is reframed to reflect present-day realities — questions of caste, love, marriage, control, censorship, and the burdens people carry.
“Our work grows from a deep commitment to craft and collaboration, and a belief that theatre can move, question and connect,” says Osman, who first staged a shorter version of the play during his Master’s in Performing Arts at Pondicherry University.
Published – April 16, 2026 11:05 am IST





