By Ajay Ghosh
New York: 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 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 commit 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? This epic drama is presented in a Shivani Wazir Pasrich production, “Draupadi — Will My Spirit Live On,” an English play, produced in India that interweaves tales of the epic past from the Hindu holy text, The Mahabharata, with contemporary Indian life. It will be presented by the Indo-American Arts Council to the New York audiences from March 16 to March 20, at Off-Broadway’s Roy Arias Theater (300 W. 43rd St. between 8th and 9th Avenues). 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. “Draupadi is every woman,” says Aroon Shivdasani, executive eirector of the Indo-American Arts Council, “and there is no more poignant and meaningful time to present this work of art than during International Women’s Month.”
The Indo-American Arts Council, a not-for-profit organization, is presenting the play in New York. Aroon Shivdasni, executive director of IAAC, tells India Tribune, that IAAC has taken upon the mission of promoting and building the awareness, creation, production, exhibition, publication and performance of Indian and cross-cultural art forms in North America. It is passionate about showcasing, celebrating and building an awareness of artists and artistic disciplines of Indian origin in the performing, literary, visual and folk arts.
