Plays about Madras (6)
I believe the answer is:
dramas
'plays' is the definition.
(I know this)
'about madras' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates anagramming the letters.
'madras' is an anagram of 'DRAMAS'.
(Other definitions for dramas that I've seen before include "Tragic situations" , "Theatrical plays" , "sensations" , "crises" , "works" .)