Two grand sights will be seen in Hyderabad in October, Rajadhiraj Yatra – Krishna Leela at your doorstep and zenith dance group krishna storyOn 2 and 31 October respectively. With Lord Krishna at their centre, Rajadhiraj Yatra Whereas, a musical based on his life and teachings is krishna story is a Broadway-style theatrical production that brings his timeless stories to life.
scale and grandeur
Creating a cinematic experience… A view from RAjadhiraj Yatra – Krishna Leela at your doorstep –
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Conceived and brought to life by Dhanraj Nathwani, Rajadhiraj YatraDirected by Shruti Sharma, known for its scale and grandeur. With a cast of approximately 100 and over 500 costumes, this production combines live singing, elaborate choreography and LED-enabled visuals to create a cinematic experience on stage. “Our intention is to celebrate the stories we have grown up listening to and bring them to life in the most beautiful form,” says Shruti.
The musical was first staged at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center (NMACC) in Mumbai in August 2024 and has since traveled to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bengaluru, Chennai and Dubai.
A scene from ‘Patal Bhairavi’. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Mythological presentations are not new to Telugu theater audiences. The famous Surabhi Theater (Sri Venkateswara Natya Mandali), a family-run theater group, has been entertaining audiences with mythological plays for almost 140 years. While the group regularly stages devotee prahlad And Shri Krishna Leelalu In the auditoriums, its famous production remains Maya Bazaar.
“The Mayabazar The film, released in 1957, was inspired by a play staged by Surabhi in 1952,” says the group’s actor-director Jaychandra Varma. “Special effects in our plays started as early as 1910; Till then, we only had rolling curtains.
special effects
It is interesting to note how differently traditional circles and technology-based productions view special effects. Ghatotkacha came to light donkey And Abhimanyudu’s Arrows were among the highlights of Surabhi MayabazarRecently staged at Taramgam festival.
Jayachandra Roshan shows donkey
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“When Ghatotkacha is angry, there is light inside donkey The switch is switched on with a remote to symbolize his anger, while blue light emanates from his eyes. We use blue LED lights with a blinking circuit to create the effect. Light bulbs are placed behind custom blue-tinted glass, while actors or backstage crew turn on handheld batteries. When the stage lights dim and Ghatotkacha angrily works his magic, blue light pierces the darkness.”
Abhimanyu and Shasirekha in a scene from the play ‘Maya Bazaar’. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The scene of opening the jail door is another shocking moment for Surbhi Shri Krishna Leelalu. It appears that a key tied in the waistband of the demon Bahulodharudu’s dress moves towards the prison door and breaks the lock. According to Jayachandra, the effects are achieved manually using stage mechanics and require the coordination of four artistes and six technicians.
stories on stage
Visual spectacle Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Tradition meets technology RajadhirajWhich focuses on technique, pre-production and planning across approximately 12 departments, with 300 cues and 100 cues dedicated to lighting and sound design. As the narrative moves from Mathura and Gokul to Vrindavan, a little girl asks questions to the two storytellers on the stage.
“It feels like a film on stage, taking the audience from one world to another flawlessly and seamlessly,” says Shruti. A mix of live elements, physical props and VFX, the Vrindavan sequence features dancers playing peacocks, a bridge on which Radha waits for Krishna, and LED lighting effects that create the gardens of Vrindavan.
Shruti adds, “There’s a lot of technology used in it, but in an organic way. In the end, we hope the audience won’t recognize the technology but will just enjoy the experience.”
For Shruti, the emphasis on grandeur and technology is ultimately to enhance the storytelling without distracting from the narrative. She says, “We have simply taken inspiration from prestigious institutions, learned from traditional art forms and put them together using new technology. This amalgamation aims to take from the roots of traditional storytelling and present them through contemporary tools.”
Rajadhiraj Yatra – Krishna Leela at your doorstep And krishna story Will be staged at Shilparamam on October 2 and October 31 respectively. Tickets: BookMyShow.
published – October 01, 2026 11:05 am IST