So it was only when I moved to the US (from France) at age 18 that everyone started calling me Sidd, following that American mania of shortening all names to one syllable. I accepted it without thinking, and eventually began using it to introduce myself. At least it spared me the Hermann Hesse questions. But I never felt like a Sidd.

It took me years to accept that the nickname was really bothering me; years more to realize I could do something about it. One day five years ago I sent an email to all my friends asking them to call me any nickname they liked, just not Sidd. It was a profoundly liberating moment. So much so that when I’m called Sidd now, which happens from time to time, it barely bothers me anymore.

But now comes this, and I’m starting to have ugly flashbacks:

SIDD, a new musical based on the novel “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse, will begin performances at Dodger Stages 5 (340 West 50th Street) on Thursday, February 23 @ 8:00 PM. With music & lyrics by Doug Silver and direction, book & additional lyrics by Andrew Frank, SIDD will have its official opening on Wednesday, March 22 @ 8:00 PM.

Oh boy. Here we go:

SIDD chronicles the extraordinary journey of a man’s life from his youthful wanderings in his home village, through his many years living amidst the glamour jazz and corruption of the city, his encounter with Buddha and ultimately, his enlightenment that follows. SIDD features a diverse cast of seven accompanied onstage by piano, cello and percussion trio. The musical’s eclectic score draws on various influences from Richard Rodgers to reggae.

There’s a couple of places I could go with this. One has to do with names. The artistic gesture of adapting Siddhartha the seeker into Broadway Sidd, reminds me of the casual dismissal of non-native names that I, like many others, underwent — and of my years of meek acquiescence, of which I am vaguely ashamed. I wonder if other mutineers relate.

Then there’s the musical itself. I found two desi-ish connections on the show’s roster:

Directed by Andrew Frank, SIDD will feature Neil Maffin (B’way: Salomé; Off B’way: Entertaining Mr. Sloan, The Sum of Us, The Illusion) in the title role, alongside Marie-France Arcilla (Off B’way: The Ark), Dann Fink (B’way: Les Miserable), Pamela Jordan (B’way: Dracula, The Boy From Oz) Nicole Lewis (B’way: Lennon), Arthur Marks, and Gerry McIntyre (B’way: Once On This Island; Off-B’way: The Audience). This production features set design by Maruti Evans, lighting design by Chris Dallos, costume design by Michael Bevins & sound design by Andrew Bellware. SIDD is presented by Always On The Way / Fran Kirmser Sharma.

Maruti Evans turns out to be a guy. Fran Kirmser Sharma went to Skidmore and I guess must have married a brother named Sharma. By the way, here’s the cat who’s playing Sidd.

Now there’s got to be some mutineers who can give us the inside scoop on this fine production. Meanwhile, I am sure that somewhere out there in the Sepiasphere, there’s a Bengali-American brother called Buddhadeb or Buddhaditya who goes by the name of Bud.