In repertoire
द्रौपदी
Draupadi
The fire-born queen who would not be silenced.
The story
What is the story of Draupadi?
Shloka
गोविन्द द्वारकावासिन् कृष्ण गोपीजनप्रिय ।
govinda dvārakāvāsin kṛṣṇa gopījana-priya
O Govinda, dweller of Dwarka, Krishna, beloved of the gopis — the name she cried out in the court.
Rasaरौद्र-करुणRaudra-Karunawrath braided with grief
Bhavya Kavikala Arts tells the Mahabharata through Draupadi — the queen born of fire who answered her humiliation with a question no elder could meet.
She steps full-grown from her father Drupada's yajna-fire, is won at her swayamvara by an arrow through the eye of a revolving fish, and reigns over Indraprastha — until a game of dice. Yudhishthira stakes and loses his kingdom, his brothers, himself, and then his wife. Dragged into the Kaurava court by her hair, Draupadi does not weep; she asks the assembly whether a man who has already lost himself can stake anyone at all. When the disrobing begins, tradition holds that Krishna made her sari endless. She leaves the hall with her hair unbound and a vow that it stays so until the insult is answered — and the war of Kurukshetra follows her vow.
The production keeps her cry of "Govinda!" as its axis — the moment the framing verse on this page belongs to — with Draupadi played from the company ensemble and Kavitaa Singh's live vocals scoring the court scene.
60+ artists in 170 hand-stitched costumes stage the dice hall and the fire-altar against a 40-foot LED backdrop, over a full evening in Hindi.
Scale of the work
A production built like a cathedral.
60
Performers
170
Costumes
40 ft
LED stage
Cast and creative
- DraupadiCompany ensemble
- Live VocalsKavitaa Singh
- DirectorArpit Sharma
Before you come
Planning an evening at Draupadi? Start here.
What is Draupadi about?
The Mahabharata seen through Draupadi's eyes — pride, humiliation, vow, and vengeance — told without the kings at its centre.
How long is Draupadi?
Plan for a full evening — the performance runs about two and a half hours.
What language is Draupadi performed in?
Draupadi is performed in Hindi. The dance, the live score and the 40 ft LED staging carry the story visually, so the evening lands even if you don't catch every line.
Is the music live?
Yes — the score is performed live at every show, with Kavitaa Singh on vocals and the mridangam as its heartbeat.
How many artists are on stage in Draupadi?
60+ artists — dancers, musicians and technicians — wearing 170 hand-stitched costumes, performing against a 40 ft LED stage.
How do I book tickets for Draupadi, and what do they cost?
Ticket prices and showtimes for Draupadi are announced per show. The fastest way to book is the enquiry form on this site or WhatsApp at +91 89468 57267 — say which show and city you are asking about, and the team replies with the current details.
Can I bring children to Draupadi?
Yes — all ages are welcome. These are devotional family shows, and evenings are built for families to attend together.
Something we haven’t answered? Ask us through the booking enquiry form — or explore partnering with the company as a patron.
From the same universe
Three more doors into this world.
Bring Draupadi to your stage