Buddha the Musical: Interview with Writer and Director Sujit Saraf

In this Chaitime, we talk to Sujit Saraf about Naatak's Annual Musical Buddha, which is currently being performed at Kelly Park Open theater and tickets can be purchased here: https://www.naatak.org/buddha/ Written and directed by Sujit Saraf, produced by Soumya Agastya, music by Nachiketa Yakkundi. The musical is set in the sixth century BCE and portrays the life of the Shakya prince Siddharth which eventually alters the course of human history. With a giant mural for a set, colorful costumes, and imaginative props, the play is a visual treat and a unique outdoor experience in the shade of lush maple and oak trees. In this interview, we talk to Sujit about his vision of creating the play, Sujit's background, and the brief history of Naatak, the premier Indian theater company in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sujit Saraf received his Ph.D. from Berkeley. He works in Palo Alto, Calif., where he researches space missions and satellite control. Sujit runs Naatak, the premier Indian theater company in the San Francisco Bay Area, when not being a geek. He is the founder and artistic director of Naatak. Sujit is a recognized author, and he wrote his first novel "Limbo" in 1994. His 2007 book, "The Peacock Throne," was shortlisted for the Encore Prize in London. His third novel, "The Confession of Sultana Daku," is will be made into a motion picture starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Saraf was nominated for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 for his fourth book, "Harilal and Sons." He has also tried his hand at independent filmmaking with two feature films in his bag.