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Draupadi’s Untold Strength Comes Alive Through Kuchipudi in Delhi (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: The national capital is set to witness an evocative retelling of Draupadi’s life through the classical language of Kuchipudi, as Sampradaayam Cultural Trust presents a special dance production exploring dignity, strength, resistance and feminine agency.
The performance will be staged on October 22, 2026, from 6 pm onwards at the Bhim Auditorium, Dr Ambedkar International Centre, 15 Janpath, New Delhi.
Conceptualised and choreographed by renowned Kuchipudi exponent Swathy Somanath, the production presents Draupadi not merely as a character from the Mahabharata, but as a powerful embodiment of feminine Shakti who questions injustice and refuses to remain silent.
The production traces Draupadi’s extraordinary journey from her birth from the sacred fire of King Drupada’s yajna to her final journey towards the Himalayas.
Through Kuchipudi’s combination of movement, expression, music and dramatic storytelling, the production explores different dimensions of Draupadi’s personality her strength as a mother, her divine birth, the trauma of public humiliation, her determination for justice and, ultimately, her acceptance of mortality.
The famous episode of Draupadi’s humiliation in the royal court forms one of the central sections of the performance. However, the production moves beyond portraying her simply as a victim. It focuses on her courage to question injustice and defend her dignity even when confronted by overwhelming power.
Her questions from the epic continue to resonate in the present, making Draupadi a figure through whom the production examines gender inequality, social injustice and the importance of speaking against wrongdoing.
The performance is structured around five major episodes.
The opening portrays Draupadi as Mother Earth or Vasundhara, representing endurance, nurturing strength and the ability to sustain others despite suffering.
The second scene depicts her extraordinary birth from fire, presenting her as a figure of beauty, power and resistance destined to challenge established norms.
The third focuses on Draupadi Vastraharan, exploring humiliation, faith, divine protection and resistance.
The fourth turns to Draupadi’s vow and quest for justice, portraying how anger following humiliation transforms into determination.
The final chapter, Mahaprasthanam, follows Draupadi on her journey towards the Himalayas and explores sacrifice, detachment and mortality.
At the centre of the production is Swathy Somanath, a top-grade Doordarshan artist, Kuchipudi exponent and the Director and Principal of Sampradaayam Gurukulam.
Somanath has dedicated her work to creating a strong institutional foundation for Kuchipudi and promoting the classical tradition among younger generations. She has conceptualised and choreographed the Draupadi production while also taking on the lead role.
The script has been written by Volga, the noted Telugu writer and 2015 Sahitya Akademi Award recipient. Known for her feminist writing and works including War & Peace, Dark Clouds and The Liberation of Sita, Volga brings a contemporary perspective to Draupadi’s story.
The production brings together a team of experienced classical performers and young disciples.
D. Mehar Prabhakar, an accomplished classical dancer and actor and a Doordarshan B-High grade artist, is part of the performance. He has also performed at Kartavya Path during the Republic Day celebrations in 2023.
Korra Balaram, a senior disciple and teaching assistant at Sampradaayam, is another key performer. Balaram holds an MA in Kuchipudi from Andhra University and is a Doordarshan B-High grade artist who has performed internationally in the UK, USA and Malaysia.
The production also features Loka Chandra Shekhar Reddy, an internationally recognised Andhra Natyam and Kuchipudi exponent trained under Padma Shri Dr Nataraja Ramakrishna.
Young Kuchipudi artiste Uppada Geethika, who has undergone more than eight years of rigorous training under Guru Swathy Somanath, is also part of the artistic team.
The musical dimension of the production has been created by noted musicians.
Garimella Gopalakrishna has composed the music. A world record holder for 37 hours of continuous violin playing, he was also honoured by legendary musician Dr Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna.
N. Suresh Prasad is the music director. A versatile tabla player and percussionist, he has also composed music for several projects.
Together, the music and choreography aim to strengthen the emotional movement of Draupadi’s journey, allowing the narrative to unfold through rhythm, expression and dramatic performance.
The production is also part of Sampradaayam Cultural Trust’s larger mission to protect, preserve and promote Kuchipudi.
Based in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, Sampradaayam Kuchipudi Gurukulam operates on a 12-acre campus along the banks of the Nagavali River. The institution follows the traditional residential Gurukul system, providing students with practical dance training alongside theoretical and academic education.
The initiative seeks to ensure that Kuchipudi remains a living tradition that can be passed from one generation of artists to the next.
For Sampradaayam, Draupadi's story is not confined to the Mahabharata. Her questions about dignity, justice, power and silence continue to find relevance in contemporary society.
Through Kuchipudi, the production seeks to give those questions a new stage — presenting Draupadi as a woman who transforms vulnerability into courage and suffering into strength.
The Delhi performance is therefore positioned not simply as a classical dance recital, but as an evening where India's ancient cultural heritage meets a contemporary conversation about dignity, self-respect and the strength to question injustice.
