Mumbai: “The Stalemate” Brings an Emotional Chessboard Battle to Life; Young Malayali Actor Kesav Binoy Impresses on Stage
Mumbai: The Stalemate, the critically acclaimed emotional psychological drama presented by the INT Aditya Birla Performing Arts Academy, is drawing widespread attention among theatre enthusiasts in Mumbai. Set against the backdrop of a chess match, the play explores themes of survival, childhood trauma, and humanity’s relentless desire for control. The story unfolds through the complexities of a fractured sibling relationship.
The narrative revolves around siblings Renu and Karthik, who continue to grapple with haunting childhood memories shaped by an abusive upbringing and the brutality of their violent father. As they struggle to rebuild their lives, Inspector Shashank arrives with the news of their father’s death, reopening long-buried secrets. What follows is an intense psychological battle filled with strategy, deception, and shifting perspectives, where the lines between victim and predator gradually blur. The title The Stalemate symbolises an emotional state of feeling both safe and trapped at the same time.
Malayali Actor in a Prominent Role
Written and directed by Nikhil Kathara, the production features five principal characters and sixteen dancers. Each of the five lead roles carries equal importance, with young Malayali actor Kesav Binoy Kiran portraying one of the central characters. The other lead actors include Sumana Chakravarti, Tushar Pandey, Shaun Williams, and Ajinkya Oval.
Speaking about the production, Kesav Binoy said the play has received an overwhelming response from audiences during its earlier performances.
“We have successfully completed three shows so far. The opening performance was staged at the Royal Opera House, followed by two shows at the NCPA. Our fourth and fifth performances will be held at the newly inaugurated Birla Theatre. The tremendous appreciation we received from audiences has given us great motivation to move forward,” he said.
From Theatre to International Cinema
Born in Kerala, Kesav Binoy Kiran was raised and educated in Mumbai. An engineering graduate in Computer Science, he has been actively involved in theatre since his school and college days.
“It was during my school and college years that I developed my passion for acting through theatre. As a film actor, returning to the stage that shaped me and performing live before an audience is an experience I truly cherish. Theatre not only helps me refine my acting skills but also gives me the unique opportunity to experience the audience’s immediate reactions,” Kesav shared.
Kesav made his entry into cinema through the internationally acclaimed English-language films Girls Will Be Girls and Sanmavi. He is the son of Binoy B. and interior designer Kavitha Binoy. His only sister is currently pursuing higher studies in Canada.
A Visual Spectacle on Stage
The production brings together an accomplished team of performers and creative artists behind the scenes. The Kathak choreography by Sugandha Lamba features dancers Princy Namdev Singh, Nikita Joshi, Parinita Mahendra Pawar, Prashasti Manishwar, Priya Samarth, Sakshi Bodas, and Nidhi Dedhia.
The action sequences, trained in Kalaripayattu under Deepika Pandey, feature performers Malavika Thampi, Levan Shubhankar, Tanmay Jindal, Akash Hattaraki, Arpit Thakur, Neerja Nakhwa, Yogesh Kumar, and Gauri Shinde, adding visual grandeur and dynamic energy to the stage production.
