Jacob Rajan, a Malaysian-born actor and playwright of Indian descent, graduated from Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand Drama School, in 1994. While studying at the school, he devised a monologue based on the thoughts of a Hindu dairy owner. This became the solo show Krishnan's dairy, an immediate national and international success. It was followed by The candlestickmaker (2000), The pickle king (2002) and The guru of chai (2010). Rajan used masks in his work for the different characters, and this 2012  photo shows the case he used to transport them.  In 2013 Rajan was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.