All internships begin with a certain goal in mind, some with the end in sight. But when I set out on this project, little did I realise the magical journey that Gopi and Bagha would take me on! The internship goes beyond traditional animation and ventures into storytelling, acting, pre-production, production, stage ethics, and a variety of other topics. The knowledge gained is, as Steve Jobs would have said, like connecting the dots; you cannot connect them looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.

The internship is clearly split into various stages, just like a theatre act. The first act included our introduction and initial discussions with eminent director Salim Arif and his wife, Lubna Salim, a distinguished personality in her own right. The second act included our struggles in outlining the requirements of the play and the consequent quest for materials and props. Act three was full of hectic schedules and deadlines, with long hours of rehearsals, on-the-spot decisions, and delivering to challenges being thrown our way every second. The pressure tenfold increased due to the imminent arrival of the play's date. But the final act was a treat, with all our hard work paying off and mostly owing its success to the laughter and joys of every kid who watched this beautiful play.