 Elkunchwar has experimented with many forms of dramatic expression, ranging from the realistic to symbolic, expressionist to absurd theatre with theme ranging from creativity to life, sterility to death and has influenced modern Indian theatre for more than three decades.Elkunchwar emerged onto the national theatre scene with the publication of his one-act play "Sultan" in 1967 in noted literary magazine "Satyakatha".This play was immediately noticed by Vijaya Mehta; she went on to direct four of his early plays, including "Holi" and "Sultan" in 1969 and 1970 for "Rangayan".