Join us for the story of the first lady of Indian cinema: Devika Rani! Written by Rupam Mishra.
Cast of Characters:
Rupam Mishra as Devika Rani
Ojas Abhishek Kumar as Svetoslav Roerich
Ian Christian as Himanshu Rai
Eakansh Sharma as Naj-mul Hasan
Ayaan Diwan as Dilip Kumar
Tushar Sateeja as Ashok Kumar
Genie (Ranjani Karthikeyan) as the Makeup Artist/Personal Assistant to Devika Rani
Priyanka Sunkesula as the Reporter
Costumes by Radha Ganesan
Lighting Design by Sugumar Shanmugam
Set Design by Maitreyee Kuhu & Rohit Xavier Shaji
Projections by Sajiv Pasala
Props by Izabelle and Raghuram
Asst. Director/Sound by Hareeshh Ram
Stage Manager Raghuram
Directed by Jill Navarre
About the event:
This play is the first in a longer series exploring the inner lives and legacies of forgotten women — artists, rebels, mystics, and political figures who shaped history in invisible ways. Devika Rani was not just the “First Lady of Indian Cinema.” She was a visionary — a woman of immense talent and steely resolve who co-founded Bombay Talkies with Himanshu Rai in the 1930s, ran it single-handedly after his death, and nurtured stars like Ashok Kumar and Dilip Kumar. Her life was marked by rebellion, beauty, intelligence, and trauma — from her dramatic romantic life to navigating patriarchal expectations in both art and love. Despite her contributions, Devika Rani remains on the margins of public consciousness. Popular culture remembers her for her looks or scandals, not her extraordinary courage or leadership. Through this play, Rupam Mishra aims to restore her complexity and rightful place in the cultural imagination.
Reasons to attend:
Enjoy a wonderful story of India’s first lady of Indian cinema, and the beginning of Bombay Talkies, one of the first Indian film companies.
Understand and appreciate the struggles and courage of women in the early days of Indian cinema.
Get acquainted with the early days of Hindi cinema; the style of acting, the music, dance and singing that has made Indian cinema an international phenomena.
Watch some video clips of some of the early Indian movie actors: Devika Rani, Himanshu Rai, Naj-Mul Hasan, Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar. How did they get their start in film?
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