Originally written in Kannada, Tughlaq has been translated into English (notably by Alyque Padamsee) and other Indian languages, making it accessible to a pan-Indian and global audience. The play's structure was influenced by the techniques of Parsi theatre, which uses a succession of "shallow" and "deep" scenes to contrast the lives of the common people with those in the royal court. Karnad masterfully uses this model to show the gulf between the rulers and the ruled, with the comic character Aziz rising in prominence as the Sultan’s court empties.
Through Karnad's play, we're offered a glimpse into the psyche of this multifaceted ruler. Tughlaq's conversations with his advisors, friends, and even his enemies reveal a sharp intellect, coupled with a tendency towards megalomania. tughlaq by girish karnad text