Love never quite plays out the way it does in our heads. It begins with a rush of curiosity, warmth, excitement, but unfolds in unprecedented ways. As it deepens, it also begins to press on parts of us we didn’t expect to reveal. In time, the comfort of togetherness meets the friction of two people growing, sometimes in sync, sometimes apart. There’s joy and connection, but also confusion, miscommunication, fear, and silence. A relationship is a becoming that in time either settles into something lasting, or breaks away, taking pieces of us with it.
'Sam-Aaj' is a contemporary dance narrative that sits in the middle of all of this. It explores what it means to love while navigating identity, change, and personal truth. The story follows Samir and Miraaj, two men in a relationship who are forced to confront their insecurities. As their bond grows, so do the tensions; between who they’ve been, who they want to be, and what they fear losing. The work is less about resolution and more about that fragile space between acceptance and rejection.
The contemporary dance piece is directed, produced, and choreographed by Jainil Mehta, who also stars in in it alongside Shubham Mahawar. Jainil, originally from Mumbai, brings both a deep cultural grounding and global training to his work. His interest in storytelling through movement shows through clearly; shaped by years of experience in choreography, performance, and production.
Photographer Rashi Ganeriwal’s photoseries for Sam-Aaj mirrors the emotional arc of the narrative through the seven stages of Ishq (love) : dilqashi (attraction), uns (infatuation), mohabbat (love), akidat (trust), ibtida (beginning of obsession), junoon (madness), and maut (death). The photos capture the in-between moments Samir and Miraaj, offering a quiet, visual counterpoint to the choreography, and grounding the story in lived emotion.
The production features original music and lyrics by Shivansh Jindal, with poetry by Amrita Saluja and Devarshi Shah, and voiceovers by Nakuul Mehta and Aaryama Salim. Costumes are designed by Rasa by Jainil. Together, this team creates an expressive story about the emotional truth of a relationship; one that exists outside our imagination until we're right in the middle of it.
Sam-Aaj is a touring performance. Get your tickets here.
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