‘Welcome Zindagi’ brings poignant Gujarati theatre to Atlanta

The event was attended by cultural ambassador Mustafa Ajmeri.

The last scene of the play / Courtesy - Sanjay Pandya

The International Gujarati Cultural Society of Atlanta (IGCSA) staged the 994th performance of Welcome Zindagi, the acclaimed Gujarati play by poet and director Saumya Joshi.

The event was graced by Drs. Naresh & Asha Parikh of Georgia Clinic, Dr. Dhaval Shah of Peach Clinic, Savan Shah, Rajiv Goswami, and cultural ambassador of India, Mustafa Ajmeri, amongst others.

From L to R: Dr. Asha Parikh, Dr. Naresh Parikh, Jatin Shah, actor Abhinay Banker, writer-director and actor Saumya Joshi, Jigna Vyas, Chaula Zaveri-Shah, Mustafa Ajmeri, Nimesh Sevek and Kheru Ajmeri / Courtesy - Sanjay Pandya

Hosted at the Peachtree Ridge High School auditorium on Aug 10., the play centers on the Ganatra family, Mumbai residents who migrated from Savarkundla, Gujarat, in search of a better life.

Arun Ganatra, portrayed by Joshi, is a head clerk approaching retirement; his wife Bhanu, played by Jigna Vyas, is devoted yet assertive; and their son Vivek, brought to life by Abhinay Banker, is a business-minded MBA graduate uncertain about a corporate career.

Welcome Zindagi explores unspoken affection within families, generational misunderstandings, and the risks of entrepreneurship. Disagreements over investing family savings into a new venture reveal the challenges faced by middle-class households. Vyas’s Bhanu brings warmth and Kathiawadi-flavored wit, Joshi’s Arun conveys depth through restrained expression and body language, and Banker’s Vivek balances ambition with the weight of past grievances.

Attendees of the event / Courtesy - Sanjay Pandya

A standout moment is Arun’s closing soliloquy, which elevates the dignity of a humble clerk’s life — a rare honor often reserved for the privileged. While labeled a comedy by some, the production blends satire, emotion, and realism into what Joshi calls “factual fiction.”

The IGCSA, known for cultural programming, has previously hosted events such as the Gujarati Film Festival, evenings with renowned Gujarati literary figures, and musical performances.

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