Hema Malini – Draupadi play, Kolkata

By Sumita Chakraborty, Founder & Editor-in-chief, TheGlitz.Media

India’s ‘Eternal Dream Girl’ Hema Malini has always had a way of elevating art into something deeply personal. …And as I sat at the Science City Convention Centre Auditorium in Kolkata watching Hema Malini’s Draupadi, I realised this wasn’t just a performance I was witnessing… it was an experience I was feeling.

Sheer Grace – Draupadi by Hema Malini

From the very first moment Hema Malini appeared on stage as Draupadi, there was an undeniable shift in energy. She was graceful, ethereally beautiful, and utterly commanding… radiating a timeless aura that only true legends possess. There was something almost celestial about her presence; she seemed to glide rather than move, every gesture dipped in elegance, every expression steeped in meaning.

Draped in quiet regality, she didn’t just portray Draupadi… she elevated her. Her face, expressive and luminous, told stories even in stillness, while her movements carried the finesse of decades of mastery. She stood out head and shoulders above everybody… not just as the lead, but as the soul of the production.

Stunning!

What makes Hema Malini extraordinary is not just her technical brilliance, but the emotional intelligence she brings to the stage. There is ‘magic’ in her performance… an ability to hold back just enough, to let the emotion simmer rather than spill. Her abhinaya was exquisite, layered with subtlety and depth, making every moment feel intimate and deeply personal. She brought to Draupadi a quiet strength, a dignified vulnerability, and an unspoken resilience that lingered long after each scene ended. It was impossible not to be mesmerised.

What struck me most was the depth of her portrayal. This was not a dramatic retelling filled with exaggerated theatrics. Instead, it was introspective, nuanced, and profoundly moving. Through every measured glance and poised movement, she brought alive Draupadi’s strength, pain, dignity, and fire. It felt less like watching mythology unfold and more like witnessing a woman’s truth being told with grace and conviction.

Excellent Production & Stellar Cast

The production itself was beautifully balanced… visually rich without overwhelming the storytelling. The ensemble cast was strong, adding texture and rhythm to the narrative. The actor who played Krishna was especially compelling, bringing a calm, almost divine presence that anchored the performance with quiet authority. His portrayal was subtle yet powerful, embodying wisdom and serenity in a way that felt both authentic and evocative.

Then there was Suryaputra Karan… portrayed by a tall, strikingly handsome actor who brought both intensity and grace to the role. His performance carried a certain gravitas, making his internal conflict palpable and deeply affecting. There was dignity in his stance, emotion in his stillness, and a quiet power that made his presence linger.

Relevant Even Today

As I watched, what stayed with me was how relevant the story felt… even today. Questions of honour, justice, identity, and resilience are timeless, and here they were, unfolding with such clarity and emotional resonance. Kolkata, with its deep-rooted cultural sensibility and reverence for feminine power, felt like the perfect setting for this narrative. It wasn’t just being performed… it was being understood.

By the time the performance ended, I wasn’t just applauding… I was reflecting. There was a lingering stillness within me, the kind that follows something truly profound.

Hema Malini’s Draupadi is not about spectacle. It is about presence, power, and poetry in motion. And as I walked away from that evening, one thought stayed with me… true artistry doesn’t demand attention, it commands it… effortlessly, elegantly, eternally.

Behind the Grandeur: The Creative Forces Powering Draupadi

Bringing Draupadi to life is a remarkable confluence of some of India’s finest creative minds, seamlessly blending artistry, vision, and technical brilliance. Produced under the banner of Natyavihar Kalakendra and conceptualised by Hema Malini, the production is elevated by Bhushan Lakandri’s evocative choreography and the soul-stirring music and lyrics of Ravindra Jain.

The layered soundscape is further enriched by Jolly Mukherjee and Ashit Desai, while the voices of Suresh Wadkar, Kavita Krishnamurti, Roop Kumar Rathod, and Sadhana Sargam lend emotional depth to the narrative.

Visually, the production is nothing short of spectacular, with Academy Award-winning designer Bhanu Athaiya crafting the costumes, alongside Neeta Lulla for Hema Malini’s exquisite ensembles. The immersive sets by Omung Kumar, complemented by Sudhir Arts’ properties and the dramatic lighting by Light Impressions (Dhiren Merchant), create a rich, atmospheric canvas.

Enhanced further by visuals from Art Arena (Pallavi Gurjar), cinematography by Rajeev Jain, editing by Dharmendra Pandey, intricate jewellery by Tejesh Jogani, and make-up by Narendra Jadhav, Draupadi stands as a masterfully orchestrated production—where every detail contributes to its breathtaking impact.

TheGlitz Take – Draupadi

In Hema Malini’s Draupadi, what unfolds is not just a performance but a masterclass in grace, restraint, and timeless storytelling. She rises far above the ensemble… ethereal, commanding, and effortlessly magnetic… proving that true artistry lies not in spectacle, but in presence. This is quiet power at its finest, where every gesture speaks and every emotion lingers.

TheGlitz says: If Hema Malini’s Draupadi comes to your city, don’t miss it… it’s an experience that stays with you long after the curtains fall.