Archive · 3 Aug 2025
Sakhi: Dance Theatre Explores Friendship of Sita and Draupadi
Imagine a play where two famous women from old Indian stories, Sita and Draupadi, get to talk and be friends.
This play, called 'Sakhi,' uses dance and words to show how they support each other.
Sita, known for her calmness, and Draupadi, known for her strength, share their stories.
The play uses dance styles, like Bharatnatyam, and mixes in modern music and talks.
It shows both the good and bad times these women faced, from Sita's troubles to Draupadi's challenges.
The actors use dance and words to bring these characters to life in a way that feels new and exciting for today's audiences.
Keelaka Dance Company created a dance theatre production titled 'Sakhi,' exploring a conversation between Sita and Draupadi.
The production uses Bharatnatyam, incorporating colloquial English dialogues and a fusion of Carnatic music with electronic pop.
The story reimagines the two women, who were born in different yugas, finding comfort and support in each other.
Aneesha Grover and Nandita Kalaan portray Sita and Draupadi, respectively, with Sagar Vashist playing male characters like Duryodhan and Ravan.
The creators aim to present the epic stories from a female perspective, updating them to resonate with modern audiences.
- Who
- Created by Keelaka Dance Company, featuring Aneesha Grover and Nandita Kalaan as Sita and Draupadi, with Sagar Vashist playing male roles.
- What
- A dance theatre production called 'Sakhi' exploring the imagined friendship between Sita and Draupadi.
- When
- Not explicitly stated in the provided articles.
- Where
- Calcutta is yet to host a performance, with the production by the Delhi-based Keelaka Dance Company.
- Why
- To retell the stories of Sita and Draupadi from a female perspective, making them relatable to modern audiences.
Original Stories
Modern Adaptations
Perspective Shift
Original Stories
Men wrote original epic stories.
Modern Adaptations
The production retells them with a female perspective.
- Production Title
- 'Sakhi'
- Dance Style
- Bharatnatyam
- Creators
- Keelaka Dance Company
- Based on
- Conversation between Sita and Draupadi
- Key Characters
- Sita, Draupadi, Duryodhan, Ravan
- Music Style
- Fusion of Carnatic music and electronic pop