It was in the 80s, a controversial novel by a top author in Bengal disturbed many because of teenage sex and violence, the case eventually going right up to the Supreme Court. Prajapati, which translates into Butterfly, was eventually released without any cuts. The judges said it was important for a vibrant society to understand its ills to counter it.

Green Room Theatre, whose plays have raised similar issues that trouble the society, will embark on their biggest ever experiment when they stage ebong Satarupa, a play revolving around necrophilia, a pathological fascination of sexual activities with dead bodies.

Although forbidden, there have been countless cases of necrophilia across the world.

In India, the latest case to make the headlines was in May, 2014 when – in the heart of the Indian Capital – a teenager, angered by his childhood love rejecting him for someone else, strangled his girlfriend and then, indulged in an act of necrophilia by raping the body.

Necrophilia, a social evil and primarily a psychological disorder, is less known by its name, but famous for the countless instances in real life. Green Room Theatre’s upcoming mega venture ‘ebong Satarupa’ revolves around a necrophile behind bars, who is being interrogated and interviewed by a TV journalist for her ongoing reality show. With interesting twist and turn of events, the play portrays the various shades of necrophilia and how it gradually affects the mental health of an individual, or rather, the society as a whole.

It is a true story of those who died twice.

This is, undoubtedly, Indian theatre’s rare experiment till date.

In this clash of egos, in this drama of hypocrisy, can theatre win?