S. Shakthidharan’s Journey: From Sri Lanka to Australia and Beyond

Connecting Homelands: The Journey of S. Shakthidharan

The playwright S. Shakthidharan has called Australia home since his early childhood, yet when he reflects on his origins, he speaks with deep affection for Sri Lanka. This island nation is where he was born, where he celebrated his first birthday, and where his family’s roots are firmly planted. However, in 1983, Sri Lanka plunged into a devastating civil war that would last for 26 grueling years. As part of the Tamil minority, his family possessed the means to escape the turmoil. Thus, they embarked on a journey that took them through India, Singapore, and ultimately to Australia in 1984.

“I consider Sri Lanka my homeland, but I view Australia as my home,” he shared recently, his accent reflecting the vibrant nuances of Sydney, where he was raised. “I think I carry both identities simultaneously. Sri Lanka resides somewhere deep within me. Always. No matter where I am.”

Shakthidharan was speaking in New York, following a rehearsal for his ambitious play, Counting and Cracking, where the lines between the personal and the political are intricately woven together. Although jet lag was evident, he was eager to discuss the production, which features a predominantly South Asian cast of 19 talented actors and has a running time of three and a half hours, including intermissions.

This play, infused with autobiographical elements, has enjoyed significant acclaim in Australia, where it premiered in 2019. It is currently in previews at N.Y.U. Skirball in Greenwich Village. The production is a collaboration between Belvoir St Theater and Kurinji, and is presented by the Public Theater and N.Y.U. Skirball. Counting and Cracking unfolds as a multigenerational saga centered around a Sri Lankan-Australian family, exploring the painful fragmentation of society that compels individuals to leave their cherished homeland in pursuit of a new life filled with hope and uncertainty.