The12
"The12" brings to the audience 12 ordinary people with their prejudices and biases
to the jury room as they work through a case of a son accused of murdering his father.
Art by Deepak Kapoor
A Play in Hindustani
Adapted from Ranjit Kapoor's "Ek Ruka Hua Faisla"
Directed by Sushil Rattan
Shows & Tickets
Synopsis
A young man's fate hangs precariously in the balance as a jury convenes to reach a unanimous verdict. As deliberations begin, doubts surface, tempers flare, and the evidence is meticulously dissected by the twelve individuals locked in a room, each carrying their own burdens and biases.
Will the jury manage to transcend their personal prejudices to deliver true justice?
The narrative is deceptively simple,
yet the underlying human drama resonates deeply,
leaving a lasting impact.
Sushil Rattan
A Note from the Director
I first watched "Ek Ruka Hua Faisla" in the Basement Theater of Sriram Center of Arts in New Delhi in 1981. It was directed by Ranjit Kapoor, my favorite director from NSD. I have carried this play in my heart for the past 40 years, for the depiction of different shades of gray of human nature and personalities.
It is well known that what we see as truth, may only be a perception of it and not the whole truth. My truth may be different from yours as we look at it with a different perspective. And this perspective is colored by our beliefs, our culture, our upbringing, and most of all by our exposure to the world. Our acceptance of this difference and tolerance of it, makes us what we are in a free society. In current times, the relevance of this play has grown manifold. Bias and prejudice have become stronger than ever before. We all know about it, get affected by it momentarily and then move on.
This play has an ensemble cast. The lead character never makes an appearance, but its presence looms large throughout the duration of this presentation. The play feeds on the moments created by the actors, each one of them. Every character takes the story forward to slowly unearth their limitations and frailties. At the end, I want my audience to precisely see that, and not a particular actor. Casting for the play was not easy but now I have an amazing group of people who have given so much to this project. Their enthusiasm and dedication, even after long hours with a grouchy director, has not waned. They look as energetic as they were when we met for the first time. I am proud of them and have no words to express my gratitude.
My apologies to Ranjit bhai for altering his wonderful script and modifying the dialogues to bring something new. Whether I have succeeded in my endeavor, is up to you-the jury.
My thanks to Ashish Vidyarthi for agreeing to be the voice of the judge.
Cast & Crew
Meet the Cast
Behind the Scenes
Gallery
Photography credits: Anis Khan, Sanjeev Singhal
Previous Performances
"The12" has captivated audiences in previous runs, receiving acclaim.
| Venue | Dates |
|---|---|
| The Writer's Center, MD | March 3, 4, 5, 2023 |
| The Writer's Center, MD | May 21 & May 26, 2023 |
Reviews for the shows in 2023
"What seemed on the surface to be a 12-member jury deliberating over a teenager's fate transforms slowly into every jury member battling with their own demons in the simple act of trying to understand first before passing judgement."
"The production's decision to go minimalist on the set was on point and adeptly stays away from the trap of an overly loud courtroom drama. It forces the viewer to pay attention to the seamless transition of verbose exchanges and sometimes heated arguments that Dr. Rattan has expertly extracted from his team."
"The 12, directed By Sushil Rattan ji is a play to watch in the play wonderland!!! The moment the curtain raised I felt a goosebump. With dialogue so crisp and sharp and acting so superb and par excellence that I wished and missed my dear ones thinking wished once they had seen."
"A big bow to SUSHIL RATTAN, Director/actor and producer DEEPTI RATTAN for an engaging performance of THE 12 at the WRITERS CENTER. Kudos to the entire team - intricately directed, well-acted - a symphony and not a cacophony!!!! Added dimension is the arresting lighting design by Arindam Ghosh."
"The 12, a play which makes you pause and think, do I have some of my own prejudices…Sushil Rattan ji, you were a really cool, old grumpy guy… congratulations to the team!!"
"I have no pics to attest and I sure don't need any when it comes to a production by Deepti Rattan, directed by Sushil Rattan with a superb star cast. You all just rocked the stage today deliberating a case. Congratulations to the team 12. Remembering dialogues is not easy. You all aced it."
"Producing a play that delights and thrills the audience requires so much hard work that many of us can't imagine. This collection of photographs from 'The 12' is only a glimpse of emotional burden and hard work that must have gone into this amazing play... Congratulations to actors, director, and support of costume designer, lights, stage and so many others."
"Have you been compelled to question your pre-conceived notions and prejudices? Have you been forced to look beyond what's obvious? If so, you will relate to the drama and suspense of 'The 12,' which I had the privilege of watching at the Writer's Center in Bethesda."
"In this modern-day adaptation of '12 Angry Men,' by the astute Sushil Rattan, the courtroom saga brings to light everyday bigotry we all carry along with our deep-seated psychological burdens. The most commendable element of the play is that despite being dialogue heavy, it is extremely engaging as audience members are glued to the stage from start to finish."
"There are no primary or secondary characters—each character has a pivotal role in the plot. Their success in dropping their everyday personas and embracing so perfectly the traits and emotional nuances of the characters is the biggest strength of the play."
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