Sri Vamsi Matta, or simply Vamsi, is a Bangalore-based interdisciplinary theatre artist whose work is deeply informed by his Dalit identity, experiences, and the socio-political context of his location. As a member of a community historically marginalised and labeled "untouchable" within the Hindu caste system, Vamsi critically engages with oppressive structures and narratives affecting his community.

His recent work includes Star in the Sky, a play that poignantly captures the struggles and resilience of Dalit students in Indian universities, exploring themes of pain, identity, and systemic discrimination. Developed under Indian Ensemble's Idea Development Lab-First Draft program, the play was a runner-up for the Tata Lit Fest’s Sultan Padamsee Playwriting Award. The play opened on 26th April 2025.

Another notable project, Come Eat with Me, is a critically acclaimed performance piece that examines the intricate and often fraught relationship between caste and food. Through the shared act of cooking Dalit cuisine, Vamsi interweaves personal storytelling to challenge caste-based stigma and prejudice. Following a successful U.S. tour, the piece returned to India after Vamsi completed his 2023-24 residency as the Interdisciplinary Artist in Residence at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Vamsi co-founded OffStream, a Bangalore based arts collective supporting artists with an anti-caste lens, and building community around anti-caste histories and imaginations. He also co-founded Perishable Goods Collective, a transdisciplinary artist collective using food and art to challenge caste oppression and reclaim marginalized cultural narratives.

“I am an interdisciplinary theatre artist based in Bangalore, and my practice is rooted in challenging dominant narratives and shifting the gaze—especially when it comes to caste. Much of the art made about caste is filtered through an oppressor’s lens, often reducing our stories to pity or pain. My work resists that. When we, as Dalit artists, tell our own stories, we do so from a place of power, dignity, and resistance. I create art because I want to be seen—because our bodies, histories, and experiences have long been erased or invisibilised.

In Come Eat With Me, I invite audiences to share a meal and their own stories, creating a communal space that disrupts caste hierarchies and fosters dialogue. Through food, performance, and shared experience, I aim to contribute to the anti-caste and Ambedkarite movements—expanding their narratives across time and space, from mythology to the present. My work is about building community, reclaiming visibility, and creating spaces where our lives and imaginations are central.”

- Sri Vamsi Matta

Writer, Director, Producer and Performer: Sri Vamsi Matta