Draupadi has always teased writers and artists. Shivani Wazir Pasrich — actor, dancer and compere — slipped into the Draupadi web when working on another play, “Karna, Warrior of the Sun.”
And Draupadi ruled the past couple of years of Shivani's life. She has embarked into scripting with the play which she co-directs with Tina Johnson, the American director based in South Africa, whose memorable “Out of Bounds” was staged in the Capital a few months ago. Besides, Shivani also plays the title character in “Draupadi — We Are So Different Now.”
The production in English boasts “big talents” as Shivani likes to address them. Veteran artist Anjolie Ela Menon has designed the signature of the play, Ritu Kumar has dressed Draupadi's cast and Shubha Mudgal has sung three songs for the show. The production is staged in support of The Breast Cancer Patient's Benefit Foundation.
On looking at Draupadi through a different lens, Shivani says, “I studied Draupadi intensely, and lot of images correlated to the present. She is considered an icon of destruction and upheaval, but she is also a symbol of strength and empowerment.” The playwright puts Draupadi in current times and zooms in on her shadows in the world today.
“We have eight actors in the play and we have the character of Krishna dispersed throughout. But here, he is not the Krishna with bansuri and gopikas ,” explains Shivani. At the centre of the story is a girl of today — Maya — and her relationship with the family. “It's the story of anyone and everyone and that's the essence of the play,” she adds.
Shivani also says she was a reluctant writer. “I never planned to write it. I always planned to bring in a writer,” she asserts. She opened her script to inputs and observations from those involved in the project. “I opened it out of the box,” Shivani says, adding everyone, including “the actors, Tina,” gave their observations.
Again, on the presence of stalwarts — Anjolie Ela Menon, Ritu Kumar and Shubha Mudgal — and their “embellishments” to the play itself, Shivani says, “To me these are iconic women. I don't believe in boxes and limiting people. I believe in limitless people.” She adds the name of one of the central characters — Maya — was given by Anjolie.
“Draupadi — We Are So Different Now” will be staged at 7 p.m. from March 20 to 26 at Kamani auditorium.
