'We Push The Sky' is a reflection on community history and a changed socio-political landscape, interwoven in a narrative of personal stories 

Polarisation and prejudice have increasingly reduced spaces for healthy debate and respecting diverse views. People have become so rigid in their opinions that they have even begun losing friendships over hatred and fear. In an environment of anger and distrust, art becomes even more relevant. It provides solace and deeper insights. For this reason, I decide to listen to playwright and theatre director Nisha Abdulla's website-based audio play, 'We Push The Sky'. 

I choose a cosy spot at home, grab a cup of coffee, and listen to an engaging narration of the protagonist in reminiscing about her childhood growing up in a Muslim family in Kerala and the Gulf. Her childhood years are like any other Indian middle-class family. During those days, there was hardly any religious  discrimination. Neighbours and close friends would mix freely with each other,  visit each other's houses, and partake in each other's festivals. But over the years, amid socio-political changes, walls of distrust emerge and othering seeps in. People grow apart, a person's religious identity is held against them, friendships are lost over fear and hatred. The protagonist grows up through a changed and unrecognizable socio-political landscape, which affects her relationships with people, whom she knows since childhood, leaving her baffled and in despair. It is against this backdrop that the protagonist takes the listener on a journey through the India of the 90s till today. 

The audio play evokes myriad emotions like nostalgia, distress, hope, despair, wonder, and delight. The play, however, never devolves to the morbid even as there are rueful moments of the drastic, painful societal changes and of friendships being lost. The play is full of warm moments as the protagonist narrates anecdotes filled with memories of food and laughter, close friendships and fun, and discovering one's own and other's community practices. 

The part which stayed with me was the narration of a version of history that is hardly known in the mainstream, and that must be known and remembered as it celebrates our diversity and inclusivity. 

In terms of form, 'We Push The Sky' ticks off all the check boxes. For example, sound design is central to an audio play. Sound designer, Mark Reddy's expertise shines through. The audio is clear, and the smallest of sounds like the tearing of duct tape and the clanking of utensils are distinctly captured. The sound effects coupled with Nisha's stunning writing engages the senses and enables the listener to imagine the setting of the play, move between past and present, and picture each character, making it close to a theatrical experience, though nothing can replace watching a play live on stage. However, the major advantage of the audio play is that it is accessible anywhere, eliminating the hassle of traveling to a venue, and you can listen to it multiple times. 

'We Push The Sky', is presented by Qabila Collective, and directed by Vivek Madan. Log onto www.wepushthesky.in to listen to the play.