Makarand Deshpande's new play Sona Spa promises to give viewers their beauty sleep but in return take away their dreams

The concept of Makarand Deshpande's new play Sona Spa might sound eerily similar to Christopher Nolan's critically acclaimed movie Inception to some.

Though both of them are based on the subject of dreams, however, that's where the similarity ends. While Inception was about a group of people trying to steal the dreams of others, Sona Spa follows the hilarious adventures of two girls who work at a spa, nap on behalf of their sleep-deprived clients and in the process live their dreams.

Explaining how he got the concept for the play, Deshpande says, "I have often heard people complaining that they are not getting enough sleep.

When you think of it, it's quite funny as these individuals have all the luxuries at their disposal but sadly are deprived of sleep, which is something that they own. I strongly feel that if we sleep well, then we can have a better society as everyone will always be fresh and alert."

Deshpande also adds matter-of-factly that he was so peeved about this issue that he wanted to set up a sleeping chamber to address this issue. However, he adds that he decided to channelise this thought through a play and that was how Sona Spa was conceived.

The play revolves around Ritu, a Pune girl who wants to learn how to sleep for her sister as the latter suffers from a sleep disorder. Rucha, who hails from Mumbai, wants to unravel the mystery of her father's insomnia and joins her at the spa. Things take a comic turn when these girls start living their clients' dreams, control their sub-conscious and realise that these individuals have double standards.

Deshpande got the idea for Sona Spa around a year ago and was, in fact, working on some other play. But he confesses that he was so consumed by the idea that he decided to stall his other production and wrote the story within a fortnight.

Though the subject might sound too niche, Deshpande is confident that the production will strike a note with the audience as it deals with a universal issue. "Sleep and dreams sound complicated but I had to simplify the subject and also add layers.

The name Sona Spa might sound very sleazy and viewers might walk in expecting something on those lines. But let me assure you, this spa will massage their minds rather than their bodies."