La-Ilaaj Explores Love, Responsibility, and Self-Respect in Contemporary Play

La-Ilaaj is a contemporary play that explores love, passion, responsibility, and self-respect. Set in a city neighborhood around a local band party, it follows different characters as they struggle to define love in their own lives.

Santosh, madly in love with Lovely, harms himself to prove his devotion, but she walks away. Maria challenges this mindset, declaring that love must be rooted in self-respect and responsibility. Jugal, a young singer who longs to move beyond his father’s band, discovers the seven stages of love after meeting Maria—attraction, affection, trust, devotion, and finally sacrifice. Meanwhile, Ballu, a local goon, threatens Maria in the name of love, but she firmly rejects him, highlighting the truth that "forced love is not love" and that women are not to blame for saying "no."

Conflicts within the band raise questions of honor, entitlement, and responsibility, while Sushma’s struggle with domestic violence shows that fate changes only when we take decisions. As Jugal’s love deepens and Ballu’s obsession grows, the play asks: Is love truly essential for life, or an illusion that blinds us from ourselves?

In the end, La-Ilaaj affirms that true love is not pain or force, but respect, trust, and freedom. It breaks the myth of forced love, teaching that "No means No," and that women are born not to suffer, but to choose.

Director

Faiz Mohammed Khan, born 25 July 1986, is an Indian actor and a 2011 graduate from the National School of Drama (NSD). Born in Panna, Madhya Pradesh, where he completed his primary education, Khan began his acting career by joining Bhartiya Jan Natya Sangh (IPTA). He started with street plays, and his first stage performance was Inspector Matadeen Chand Par, directed by Satish Sharma.

Khan studied theatre music under his brother Ishtiyaq Khan and Shri Sanjay Upadhyay. He has acted in numerous plays, including Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa, Macbeth, Cherry Orchard, Hamlet, and Sab Thaath Pada Reh Jayega. Apart from La-Ilaaj, Khan has written plays such as Lovebug and Hamu (an adaptation of Hamlet). He has composed music and directed more than 50 stage plays. He has worked with theatre personalities including Devendra Raj Ankur, Anuradha Kapur, Kirti Jain, Robin Das, Bansi Kaul, Ishtiyaq Khan, and Amitesh Grover.

Director’s Note

Director Faiz Mohammed Khan notes that La-Ilaaj is a reflection of times featuring complex emotions and raw social truths. Through Maria’s voice, the play declares, "If love takes away your self-respect, it isn’t love." The character of Jugal reflects the restlessness of today’s youth caught between identity and desire, while Ballu exposes the social reality where a "no" is mistaken for a "yes." Music serves as the soul of the play, with the rhythms of local bands, dholak beats, and guitar strums reflecting the characters' inner conflicts.

Group

The group was founded by Pankaj Tripathi and Mridula Tripathi. Pankaj Tripathi is an acclaimed actor known for his experience in theatre, film, and storytelling. Mridula Tripathi is a former teacher with a background in education and dedication to creativity.