“Draupadi", a play in English, interweaving tales from the epic past with contemporary Indian life.

The play is set to be both a poetic piece of drama and a truly dazzling affair. Some of India’s foremost names in the arts have joined together to create a wonderful spectacle, with Ritu Kumar designing costumes, Aman Nath conceptualizing the set design, Anjolie Ela Menon’s intense painting being the signature of the play, and Shubha Mudgal lending her wonderful voice to the production.

The play draws attention to the roles of women in society throughout the ages, through an exploration of the dramatic and compelling figure of Draupadi herself.

Synopsis of the play

Centuries have gone by since the Mahabharat war, yet Draupadi is still here. Stuck between heaven and earth, roaming the streets and pondering her fate and her choices.

Her only confidant is Lord Krishna. She tries to resolve with him why women must continue to suffer as she had in the past.

Krishna, the orchestrator of fate, leads her to Maaya- a woman of today, who has suffered much abuse at the hands of society. A distraught Maaya attempts suicide, but Draupadi stops her and offers her help in return for a favor.

Maaya treads through her life in Draupadi’s footsteps, and in the end she too must make a choice- will she choose revenge or resilience? Will she be Draupadi’s salvation? Will Krishna be able to address centuries old smoldering wounds?

Re-looking once again at the most misunderstood Nayika in Indian Epics… The Indo-American Arts Council presents a Shivani Wazir Pasrich Production "DRAUPADI"

Length: 90 min