`People in the country were reacting so strongly to the border conflict. What about the problems we face every day, near our own homes?' asks writer-director Yasin Khan. `We have the Army to protect us there, but kya apne bheetar ke Kargil ki bhi suraksha ho payegi (will we ever be able to fight the war within)?'

The play was inspired by a newspaper snippet about a young girl who was attacked near a dhaba in Madangir while two policemen looked on. The assailants allegedly had political affiliations and the story just died down. `It originally appeared alongside a Kargil update report,' recalls Khan, explaining the connection. The playtakes up where the newspaper left off.

It begins with the attack and follows the girl on her quest for justice - to the police station where her character certificate is demanded, obviously in an attempt to blame her for the incident; to the local politician who's in cahoots with the assailants; to her suicide bid where the equivalent of the village idiot goads her to fight back.

`Plays with serious themes are still not popular, especially if they seem female-centric,' says Khan, explaining how his play strives to spread its message under the guise of a comedy. `Everyone, from Raveena Tandon to the roadside loafer, screamed to be sent to Kargil. It is easy to create and decry villains across the border, but what of the villains within? If all that bravado disappears when a hoodlum flashes a knife, how will they face shelling?'

Everyone, from the sponsors to the stars, made money out of the situation, says Khan. In fact, he admits he fell into the trap himself and put up a musical of patriotic songs.`But as a result the word `Kargil' has lost meaning for the people,' he feels.