Lights Out

by Manjula Padmanabhan

Genres: Plays

47 pages, Paperback

About the author

Manjula Padmanabhan is a playwright, novelist, journalist, comic strip artist, and children's book author.

Reviews

[Ananya M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I was introduced to Manjula Padmanabhan in college or I would’ve never gotten to read her brilliant work. Lights out is, in theory. a simple plot- a group of middle class people trying to figure out what to do when they realize a gang rape is taking place outside their building almost every day. What starts off at nonchalance from the men and hysteria from the women goes into thoughts of ‘what if it’s something religious?’, which then goes into fight mode when the men start making up scenarios in which they fight the assailants which then takes a turn as they realise they could be famous for publishing pictures of an event like this.
It’s so naturally described, this thought process and the horrible nature of humans who end up doing nothing to help in dire situations because they’re either too busy thinking about what they could do for their own gain or they want to stay out of it. Highly recommend.

[Madhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is full of triggering contents. I couldn't even get through half of the book but I had to finish it for a college paper and I did. It is a good book/script but I hope to never read something like this again.

Lights Out is based on an eye-witness account that brings the issue of violence against women to the living room of an ordinary, middle-class family. It focuses on different issues such as gender discrimination, injustice, and fear of the law, police, judicial apathy and more.

[Rishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Play. Based on a real incident that happened in Santa Cruz, Mumbai. It exposes how insensitive have we become in this age of crime towards the misery of others. Lights Out appears to be more in the nature of a discussion play. Mahesh Dattani aptly observes it as, “a play that deals with urban dilemma”.

[Sayeon ANSHIKA · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I’m unsure if I would recommend this drama to anyone. It’s very graphic and heart wrenching to read. But that's not a big problem as it can be helped by trigger warnings. The real issue is that it’s based on a true incident from 1982 in Santa Cruz, Bombay, and the real story is even more disturbing. Not recommending it feels like ignoring the reality, since this actually happened to someone, in front of many people who watched and did nothing, treating it like any ordinary day."

[Cris Rivero · Rating 4 out of 5]

M: A wh0r3 is not decent, so a wh0r3 cannot be r4p3d!
N: But then, if only decent women can be r4p3d, what is the point of being decent?

Naina is the only character that seems to have a brain. I cannot describe how mad Bhasker and Mohan made me feel (ofc male characters). Finding out that it is based on real events was a bit shocking. I think Manjula did an amazing job creating the play.

[pratiksha]

the playwright has done a great job. this made me mad af. idk how to rate it. fundamentally, i did not enjoy reading it (who would?). but it is an urgent and important play. definitely think everyone should read it.

[Lorena Living Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

The play is excellently written and it makes you feel every bit of pain and powerlessness. But I suffered a lot, it is so triggering. I don't want to read anything like this ever again

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

harsh, impactful, raw

[sidra · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very difficult read

[Eso · Rating 4 out of 5]

que barbaridad

[nuno ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

pa pensar pero gustoume que fose tan conciso

[Diana del Tártaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traumático

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

hasta el culo de leer mierdas para poscolonial

[sam✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing, shameful and makes me question my existence as a woman