JUMP: A Black Comedy Exploring Connection and Suicide on a Mumbai Rooftop

About JUMP

On a gloomy night, atop a Mumbai high-rise, a successful female CMO of a unicorn with a nihilistic outlook stands on the verge of suicide. A taxi driver, scarred by his father’s suicide, intervenes just in time. Her desire to leap clashes with his desperate need to preserve his nightly refuge, sparking a humorous, poignant, and transformative conversation between their disparate worlds. As her success facade crumbles, she reveals past traumas and unhappiness, while the taxi driver's non-judgmental demeanor and wisdom offer unexpected solace. On this redemptive rooftop, they find a unique connection in their shared humanity.

Writer and Director

Maneesh Verma is a versatile professional with over 25 years of experience as an actor, writer-director, and producer, and is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. His extensive theatre background includes performing in over 60 major productions and developing more than 15 theatre projects through Collective Madness Studios. His notable directorial projects include the comic drama "STUCK" for Shri Ram Centre Repertory and the black comedy "JUMP," which was commissioned by the Serendipity Arts Festival. His film industry work includes acting in popular films like Yodha, Bob Biswas, Gunjan Saxena, and Ajeeb Daastaans, writing and directing the Zee5 film Shireen Shah, writing a full-length screenplay titled "JUMP," and co-producing the short film 1924.

Director's Note

According to the director's note, "Jump" explores the profound human need for true connection. The play was born from a personal turning point in October 2022, when Maneesh Verma survived a devastating avalanche as a mountaineer that claimed 29 lives. That brush with mortality led him to examine the suicidal mind through a narrative fusing dark humor, magic realism, and sensitivity, balancing nihilism with existentialism.

The Studio

Collective Madness Studios is a Mumbai-based, multi-disciplinary studio creating experiences across theatre, design, and media. Signature works include the site-specific black comedy "JUMP" and the musical "Aao Saathi Sapna Dekhen." The studio has developed over 20 projects with more than 500 performances across various genres.