National Theatre Live: Behind the Beautiful Forevers

The story

India is surging with global ambition. But beyond the luxury hotels surrounding Mumbai airport lies a makeshift slum, full of people with plans of their own. Zehrunisa and her son Abdul aim to recycle enough rubbish to fund a proper house. Sunil, twelve and stunted, wants to eat until he’s as tall as Kalu the thief. Asha seeks to steal government anti-poverty funds to turn herself into a ‘first-class person’, while her daughter Manju intends to become the slum’s first female graduate. But their schemes are fragile; global recession threatens the garbage trade, and another slum-dweller is about to make an accusation that will destroy herself and shatter the neighbourhood.

Cast & crew

Meera SyalZehrunisa Husain

Vincent EbrahimCast

Sartaj GarewalMahadeo Waghekar

Muzz KhanCast

Ranjit KrishnammaRaja Kamble

Stephanie StreetAsha Waghekar

Hiran AbeysekeraSunil Sharma

Esh AlladiEsh Alladi: Guard at Dongri, Defender

Nathalie ArminCast

Pal Aron

Pal AronCast

Tia-Lana Chinapyel

Tia-Lana ChinapyelCast

Mariam HaqueCast