National Theatre Live: Behind the Beautiful Forevers

The read

It runs long at 3h 20m.

Synopsis

India is surging with global ambition. But beyond the luxury hotels surrounding Mumbai airport lies a makeshift slum, full of people with plans of their own. Zehrunisa and her son Abdul aim to recycle enough rubbish to fund a proper house. Sunil, twelve and stunted, wants to eat until he’s as tall as Kalu the thief. Asha seeks to steal government anti-poverty funds to turn herself into a ‘first-class person’, while her daughter Manju intends to become the slum’s first female graduate. But their schemes are fragile; global recession threatens the garbage trade, and another slum-dweller is about to make an accusation that will destroy herself and shatter the neighbourhood.

Ratings

Key crew

• Rufus NorrisDirector
• David HareScreenplay

Cast

• Meera SyalZehrunisa Husain
• Vincent EbrahimCast
• Sartaj GarewalMahadeo Waghekar
• Muzz KhanCast
• Ranjit KrishnammaRaja Kamble
• Stephanie StreetAsha Waghekar
• Hiran AbeysekeraSunil Sharma
• Esh AlladiEsh Alladi: Guard at Dongri, Defender
• Nathalie ArminCast
• Pal AronCast
• Tia-Lana ChinapyelCast
• Mariam HaqueCast

Stills

Themes