Acclaimed playwright and theatre director Vijay Padaki’s two new short story collections released

Mysuru: Former Joint Secretary of Cabinet Secretariat Ravi Joshi emphasised that short stories must be inherently concise, precise and capable of sharply delivering their intended message.

He shared these insights at a book launch event organised by the Lions Club of Mysore West at the Lions Sevaniketan School auditorium in Gokulam last evening.

At the event, internationally acclaimed playwright and theatre director Vijay Padaki launched two volumes of his newly published short story collections — The First Offering and The Last Cheetah — which feature a delightful array of characters and a captivating variety of storylines, all marked by his signature wit and narrative finesse.

Padaki is a noted theatre educator and the Founder of the Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT) Foundation. City-based author Sujata Rajpal was in conversation with Vijay Padaki.

Ravi Joshi praised Padaki’s mastery of the short story format, noting that most of his stories can be read in under 20 minutes while still leaving a lasting impression. His works are known for their clarity, impact and ease of comprehension.

Padaki’s literary portfolio is both diverse and prolific. Even at his age, he remains actively engaged in writing and theatre. With over 50 plays to his credit, he has made significant contributions to Indian theatre and continues to explore various literary genres, he opined.

Conversation with author

In a conversation with Sujata Rajpal, Padaki spoke about blending his interests in theatre and management. “I integrate theatre techniques into management, bridging the two fields. This connection is organic and deeply embedded in my work,” he said.

Padaki also shared that he took up writing later in life and added, “I write primarily for my own satisfaction.”

Speaking on how stories convey meaning, Padaki remarked, “Both humans and animals have the intelligence to grasp meaning without direct explanation. The best writing embeds its message subtly. It must be structured to let readers arrive at the meaning themselves, whether it’s a play, article or short story. I don’t believe in spelling out the message too explicitly.”

Sujata Rajpal echoed his thoughts, observing, “When we were children, every story seemed to carry a moral lesson. Do you think modern stories are missing that?”

Padaki responded, “We often underestimate children. They are far more capable of understanding narratives than adults assume. After hearing a story, children should be encouraged to discuss and analyse its meaning.”

‘Robi’s Garden’ staged

The book launch was followed by a theatre performance of ‘Robi’s Garden’ by Vijay Padaki and Minti Jain. This production is part of Bangalore Little Theatre’s (BLT) signature Courtyard Theatre series. Designed for two actors, the play featured minimal props, no elaborate set and no artificial atmospherics, relying purely on performance to engage the audience.

‘Robi’s Garden’ is inspired by the humorous writings of Rabindranath Tagore (Robi-da), bringing his wit and insight to life on stage through a minimalist, actor-driven approach.

The event was attended by President of Mysore West Lions Sevaniketan School Nagarajan Srinivasan, former President of Lions Club of Mysore West Sukumar and several members of the literary and theatre community.