Stories in Mother Tongues

by Deepak Kumar

Paati, the 79 year old matriarch of the family, spends her days waiting to die. The only bright spot left in her life is a one-woman show she puts on every night to an increasingly aging American theatre audience. But when her granddaughter, son, and daughter-in-law are corrupted by their inner demons and threaten to destroy her play, Paati has to team up with an unlikely ally: her aimless and existentially...

Paati, the 79 year old matriarch of the family, spends her days waiting to die. The only bright spot left in her life is a one-woman show she puts on every night to an increasingly aging American theatre audience. But when her granddaughter, son, and daughter-in-law are corrupted by their inner demons and threaten to destroy her play, Paati has to team up with an unlikely ally: her aimless and existentially tortured American grandson, Giri. Will Giri and Paati defeat the demons and keep the play running? Or will the show just… end? A metatheatrical action adventure about tradition, expectation, and learning to speak in your mother tongue.

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Stories in Mother Tongues

Recommended by

  • Zach Barr: Stories in Mother Tongues by Deepak Kumar
    “

    Much like any family history, Kumar's play appears simple at first, before revealing complications that grow variously frightening and heartening as the evening goes on. A sci-fi, combat-heavy, fourth-wall-obliterating take on intergenerational relationships, centered on an engaging and funny bond between Paati and Giri, and prickly questions about who shoulders the burdens of keeping a family's culture alive. It's campy entertainment. It's searing family drama. Magically, it's both at once.

    Much like any family history, Kumar's play appears simple at first, before revealing complications that grow variously frightening and heartening as the evening goes on. A sci-fi, combat-heavy, fourth-wall-obliterating take on intergenerational relationships, centered on an engaging and funny bond between Paati and Giri, and prickly questions about who shoulders the burdens of keeping a family's culture alive. It's campy entertainment. It's searing family drama. Magically, it's both at once.

    ”
  • Playwrights Foundation: Stories in Mother Tongues by Deepak Kumar
    “

    The Playwrights Foundation Bay Area literary council readers advanced Stories in Mother Tongues as a finalist for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

    This script delves into the intergenerational dramas of a South Asian family with a mischievous, meta-theatrical sense of humor. Our readers were particularly drawn to Paati; one of the most magnetic characters that we encountered in our review process.

    We hope this play finds dedicated collaborators in its journey towards production.

    The Playwrights Foundation Bay Area literary council readers advanced Stories in Mother Tongues as a finalist for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

    This script delves into the intergenerational dramas of a South Asian family with a mischievous, meta-theatrical sense of humor. Our readers were particularly drawn to Paati; one of the most magnetic characters that we encountered in our review process.

    We hope this play finds dedicated collaborators in its journey towards production.

    ”

Character Information

  • Patti
    Appa’s mother and omniscient storyteller of the universe. Speaks Tamil. Cannot speak English and only roughly understands it, until she can.
    79
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Giri
    Aimless, which means he’s an aspiring DJ. Cannot speak Tamil and only roughly understands it.
    29
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Gita
    Sick and tired of this shit. Also a rakshasi.
    32
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Amma
    Immigrant mother who needs a vacation. Also a rakshasi.
    50s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Appa
    Immigrant father who can’t say how he feels. Also a rakshasa.
    50s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Reading, Ojai Playwrights Conference, 2025