Event Collections

A Voice of Resistance. A Mirror to Power. A Question to the Present. Sharmishtha is not just a character from mythology, she is a woman who refuses to be silenced, even centuries later. Strong-willed, deeply aware, and rooted in the present, Sharmishthe questions the desires, delusions, and decisions of the men around her, Yayati and Puru, in a world shaped by power, patriarchy, and the obsession with eternal youth. At the heart of the play is a timeless conflict: the hunger for immortality, the politics of possession, and the cost of unchecked ambition. Long before such ideas made global headlines, Sharmishthe lived them. A princess turned servant, a mother, a silent witness, and a fierce challenger,  her journey is one of inner strength and relentless truth. As the myth unfolds, we see Yayati, cursed with old age, bargain with his son Puru to trade his years for youth. What seems like myth slowly reveals itself as a painful metaphor,  of privilege handed down, of generations burdened by the unhealed desires of their elders. And standing at the centre is Sharmishthe, who sees through it all. This play reimagines ancient events through Sharmishtha’s eyes. Through her voice, the past meets the present. She doesn’t merely retell the story,  she interrogates it. She confronts Yayati’s delusion, questions Puru’s burden, and holds a mirror up to a world that still believes nature is something to be consumed, controlled, and inherited. Sharmishthe time and again reminds both Yayati and Puru, that the transition they experience is only a dilution and they remain in multi verse, a higher dimension of time and space. Sharmishthe living in presence, convincingly brings back Yayati and Puru from dilution to their senses - i.e. presence. With myth as metaphor and poetry as protest, Sharmishthe is a call to pause, reflect, and reimagine, not just the stories we tell, but the way we live.Read More

‘Songs of the Seeker’ by The Sadho Project is an immersive music concert inspired by the poetry and philosophy of Saint Kabirdas, the 15th-century mystic poet. Original compositions inspired by Kabirdas' poetry are presented alongside reinterpretations of well known Kabir bhajan's. This is a 90 minute immersive performance that will transport the listener. The music travels from rural soundscapes and folk instruments, to the groove of urban rhythms, blending experimental electronic textures with powerful vocal harmonies. Along the way, everyday objects turn into instruments, and familiar sounds take on entirely new forms. At times meditative and expansive, at times rhythmic and full of energy; the experience moves between stillness and groove, inviting you to listen, feel, and sing along. The Sadho Project is a Bengaluru-based quartet: Vivaswath Rao, Roopini Ravindran, Kusumitha Vasanth, and Aditi Bharatee. The ensemble explores the intersections of Electronic, Indian classical and folk music. The group experiments with sound and genre while staying rooted in India’s cultural and musical heritage, creating performances that are both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant.Read More

‘Draupadi’s Mahabharata … the epic that began with her’ is an Odissi dance production that retells the epic through the eyes of Draupadi, woman, queen, witness, and conscience of the Mahabharata. From the fire of her birth to the silence after the Kurukshetra war, the narrative unfolds through her lived experience, connecting personal anguish with the larger destiny of the epic. The production traces defining moments, Draupadi’s swayamvara, the dice game, her humiliation in the Kuru court, the devastating war, and its aftermath, as a continuous moral journey reflecting the cost of power, pride, vengeance, and silence. Rooted in the classical grammar of Odissi, the choreography blends lyrical movement with expressive abhinaya and strong theatrical flow. Inspired by Maharishi Vyasa’s Mahabharata, the narrative is enriched with poetic inputs by Ashtavadhani Shri Balachandra Bhat (Sanskrit) & Shri Kedar Mishra (Odia), with music composed by Shri Rupak Kumar Parida & rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain. More than a tale of heroes and villains, Draupadi’s Mahabharata reflects on justice, responsibility, the human cost of war, and the enduring questions of dharma.Read More

This is the story of Claudia Faith Draper, an upper middle class Caucasian woman who was expected to lead a ‘dignified’ life. She was not supposed to become a call girl, let alone become ‘that’ call girl who killed one of her clients and is now accused of first degree manslaughter. The forces at large which ironically also includes her own mother and step-father have used their powers to ensure she is declared criminally insane and spends the rest of her life at Bellevue Medical Hospital- an institute for the criminally insane. As is her right, she challenges this verdict and thus begins the play, “NUTS.”Read More

Through the ancient grace of Odissi and the crystalline grandeur of opera, ‘Rhythms of Life’ traces the journey of life through the five elements, the blossoming of the human spirit, and the eternal love and longing of mythological characters. The opera moves from the rich textures of Arabic compositions to the luminous poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, traversing cultures and centuries to reveal how vast and borderless this art form truly is. CPPA's home productions, in Indian creative and contemporary dance, hold two truths at once: the inward journey of the child within, and the outward reckoning of a woman in a world marked by conflict. ‘The Child Within’ explores that first, and most unguarded self, who over time begins to carry the weight of fracture and loss, until learning to sit with that child again, with tenderness, becomes the quiet work of a lifetime. ‘She Exists’ unfolds the journey of a woman through conflict, one marked by endurance and survival that is not silence, who, in the midst of everything, still insists on her own existence. Woven into both pieces are the real voices of children and women CPPA has worked with, reminding us that these lives deserve to be witnessed. Through Bharatanatyam, the evening revisits characters whose stories have outlasted generations. ‘Rhythms of Life’ is a reminder that when movements and music speak together, they become what humanity has always needed: a language of empathy, healing, and shared existence. Performers: Aastha Mohapatra | Baisali Mohanty | Rinjini Mitra Guest Performer: Raksha KarthikRead More

Set Inside a burning hot sauna bath. What starts as casual conversation soon turns into a deadly game of wit, ego, and power. As the heat rises, masks fall. Every word becomes a challenge, every pause a threat.Read More

Federico García Lorca’s final masterpiece, The House of Bernarda Alba, was completed on June 19, 1936, just two months before he was assassinated by Nationalist forces at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. In the wake of her second husband's death, the formidable Bernarda Alba declares an eight-year mourning period, sealing her household in silence and shadows. But - she has five unmarried daughters whom she has raised under strict control and who have now been barred from going outside or to have any relationships with men. But repression has its consequences, and within the suffocating walls of the house, desire, jealousy, and defiance begin to simmer. Though originally a portrait of women’s lives in rural Spain, this production shows that the more things change, the more they stand still.Read More

A soulful musical evening dedicated to the timeless voice of Krishnakumar Kunnath, this tribute concert marks his remembrance day with melodies that continue to live in every heart. The event brings together talented singers and musicians to revisit KK’s most iconic songs, romantic ballads, heartfelt ghazals, and energetic hits that defined an era. Through live performances, storytelling, and nostalgic arrangements, the concert celebrates not just the music, but the emotions and memories KK created for millions. It is an evening of connection, reflection, and gratitude,honoring a voice that may have fallen silent, but will forever echo through generations.Read More

When we consider our society as an integrated entity, we notice that, through social stratification a pyramid is built, sometimes clearly visible, sometimes concealed. DAAG revolves around Bindiya, a tailor, who wants to get established and lead a lavish life. She earns her livelihood by stitching clothes for ladies. But she has lofty dreams of making it big in life. Reality strikes a different note. Her customers either short-change her or impose tough deadlines. Either way she is in a tight spot. The play ends with questions about our ecosystem. Are those in its upper layer bound to exploit the ones in the lower? How strong is the impact of getting exploited?Read More

Yogi vs Bhogi is a free adaptation of the 7th-century play, Bhagavadajjukam (Sanskrit, ‘bhagavat’ - hermit; ‘ajjuka’ - harlot), also known in English as The Ascetic and The Courtesan. One of the oldest surviving plays in Sanskrit literature, it is a fine example of a `prahasana`, or farce. Layered in witty exchanges about dharma, it is centered around the transmigration of souls between the two titular characters leading to confusion and chaos for the supporting characters who have no answer to the absurdity of it all.Read More