“The Wrong Gods” is a truly captivating show. I walked in with an open mind, unsure what to expect, and was immediately drawn into its world. The staging was beautifully minimalist: a cleared stage, a circular design on the floor, a lone swing, and a small ledge adorned with statues of gods. From the moment the show began, it was clear this was a small Indian village, the evocative sounds of the sarod instantly transporting us to that setting.

We’re quickly introduced to the central dynamic: Nirmala, powerfully portrayed by Nadie Kammallaweera, as the stern matriarch. She’s a strong mother figure, fiercely rooted in her village’s history and traditions, staunchly resisting progress and technology. Her daughter, Isha (Radhika Mudaliyar), offers a stark contrast. Much like a classic Disney Princess, she’s independent and strong-willed, yet feels stifled by her mother and the confines of their valley, yearning for a life beyond its suffocating walls and her mother’s control.

Just as we grasp the nuances of this mother-daughter relationship, Lakshmi (Vaishnavi Suryaprakash) enters, disrupting their lives like a “tiger.” Lakshmi embodies change, offering an easier way of life and, crucially, a path for Isha to escape the valley. What unfolds is a series of events that threaten the very fabric of the valley’s existence, turning mother against daughter. It brilliantly shines a light on a very real, modern issue affecting small villages worldwide. This deeply human story uses conflict to delve into the push and pull between tradition and progress, examining how belief,  whether in gods, ancestral wisdom, or the challenges of change, shapes everything. Rounding out this powerful cast is Manali Datar as Devi, a staunch supporter of Nirmala’s quest to preserve the old ways. 

I was struck by the sheer power of these four actors. Their portrayals were earnest and incredibly real; there were moments I had to remind myself I was watching a play, not witnessing real life, such was the intensity of the raw emotion they conveyed.

Shakthidharan and Co-Director Hannah Goodwin have done a fantastic job of bringing this small Indian village and its people to vivid life. Their vision is magnificently realized by a superb cast who embody these characters with immense force.  The message is crystal clear: the struggle between change versus tradition is a daily human experience. The play powerfully asks: who has the conviction to stand up for what they believe, and who is open to embracing change? What, ultimately, is right and what is wrong?

The Wrong Gods is an arresting and vital piece of theatre, offering a poignant mirror to our own universal navigation of belief, progress, and change on at the Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne until July 12.