Live Puppets of Indian Institute of Management Udaipur is the Special Interest Group (SIG) for people who are passionate about drama as well as those who want to spread drama culture on the campus (yes, one need not be a dramatist to become a part of this group!).
Drama is an art of expression which has an intention to bring change through entertainment, and Live Puppets prides itself not only through its performances but also by encouraging fellow students to bring out their hidden talent and passion.
At IIM Udaipur’s Independence Day celebration in 2024, Live Puppets performed a comedy play that blended satire with a patriotic message. The story revolved around college students organizing a fest, eagerly inviting a so-called internet "celebrity" to campus. However, their star guest, who appeared glamorous and influential, turned out to be a con artist, shocking the students and their audience.
The play cleverly explored how today’s youth often idolize superficial social media personalities, overlooking the true heroes of the past. Through humorous exchanges between characters — including a modernized father struggling to relate to his son’s lifestyle and students arguing over “coolness” versus substance — the script highlighted the fading appreciation for India’s roots and cultural identity. As the plot unraveled, the students’ misplaced admiration for Western trends and flashy icons reflected India's rich legacy and the importance of staying connected to its values.
IIM U recently hosted an innovative, Navratri-themed event, "Kaun Karega Tank?", inspired by the popular reality show Shark Tank. In a light-hearted and humorous setting, teams of students showcased their unique plans for organizing a Navratri celebration, each defending their proposed budgets to a panel of eccentric "judges." The event combined satire, strategic pitching, and witty banter, engaging both the audience and participants with its clever script and humorous character interactions.
The event opened with the host introducing the judges—each with distinct personalities and funny nicknames like Nitin Pakamat, Chaman Ghutkha, Babita Papad, and Ashleel Grover. These judges evaluated each team’s budget and proposals, offering both harsh critiques and humorous commentary.
"Kaun Karega Tank?" highlighted the importance of creativity, negotiation, and strategic thinking in budget management. Through a series of humorous pitches and satirical takes on event planning, students learned that while efficiency and entertainment are crucial, a unique approach—often with a bit of humor and clever persuasion—can make all the difference. The winning team's unconventional strategy underscored that successful planning isn’t just about numbers; it's about understanding your audience, adapting flexibly, and sometimes even taking risks to stand out. This entertaining event reminded everyone that blending practicality with creativity is key to impactful execution.
At IIM Udaipur’s “Audacity Unmasked” event, the Drama Club performed a comedy play that hilariously exposed the absurdities of materialistic matchmaking in today’s world. The story revolves around three brothers, one of whom, Prateek, was meeting a prospective bride, Karishma, hoping to find true love. However, Prateek’s skeptical brother, Pradyumn, suspected that the bride’s family was more interested in Prateek's newly acquired wealth than in him. The scenes unfolded with witty banter as Prateek’s family tried to interpret the strange behaviors of Karishma and her family, who themselves seemed to have hidden agendas. In a classic twist, Karishma turned out to be a "gold digger," as the brothers tried to escape the marriage trap, chaos ensued. The scene intensified as hidden motives were revealed, leading to a humorous confrontation between the two families.
At IIM Udaipur’s Qala Utsav, the Drama Club performed a comedy play that brought relief and laughter to students after the intensity of the Solaris leadership series. Set during election season, the play centered around two politicians gearing up for their campaigns, each relying on an MBA consultant for strategy. The twist? These consultants were former classmates from IIM Udaipur, now facing off in an unexpected scenario. The play humorously portrayed how politicians often lack formal education, while recent MBA graduates sometimes end up in jobs they don’t truly enjoy due to challenging market conditions. With comedic election promises and clever satire, the play shed light on the reality of career compromises while providing the audience with an evening of humor and reflection on today’s professional landscape.
The IIM Udaipur Drama Club’s Teacher's Day play humorously explored the dynamic between students and technology in the classroom. The storyline followed a group of students who, instead of preparing for class, relied on generative AI to complete assignments. Their professor, however, challenged this habit, pointing out the limitations of over-reliance on technology. The arrival of a visiting professor brought insight into what makes a truly impactful education: dedication, genuine effort, and the thoughtful use of tools like AI to support—not replace—one’s work. The play’s moral underscored the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility, encouraging students to use technology to enhance learning while staying committed to personal growth and integrity.
Rangmanch is the monologue series of Live Puppets launched in August 2021. It provides the artists with a platform to deliver their ideas in the style of a social message, humorous remark, poetry, prose, or rap. The initial two episodes of the series emphasized the focus on Social Anxiety and the Hardships of being a girl. The monologues were previously recorded and presented on the club's social media handles. Click here to view the Rangmanch video.
For the eternal love of movies, the club came up with an exciting initiative of doing movie/series reviews. It is a pure critical review of the movie/series, gauging it on all aspects from a neutral perspective. Extensive and comprehensive reviews of the movies/series are posted, exhibiting our analysis of the same. We like to bring out those subtle underlying aspects of a movie to the general audience, which need appreciation or criticism. This is an effort to appreciate the art of movie-making.
