October in Hyderabad will see two grand spectacles, Rajadhiraaj Yatra – Krishna Leela Aapke Dwar and Zenith Dance Group’s Krishna Katha, on October 2 and 31, respectively. With Lord Krishna at their centre, Rajadhiraaj Yatra is a musical based on his life and teachings, while Krishna Katha is a Broadway-style theatrical production bringing his timeless stories to life.

Conceptualised and brought to life by Dhanraj Nathwani, Rajadhiraaj Yatra, directed by Shruti Sharma, stands out for its scale and grandeur. Featuring around 100 performers and more than 500 costumes, the production combines live singing, elaborate choreography and LED-enabled scenes to create a cinematic experience on stage. “The intent is to celebrate stories we grew up listening to and bring them alive in the most beautiful form,” says Shruti.

The musical was first staged in August 2024 at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai and has since travelled to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bengaluru, Chennai and Dubai.

Mythological productions are not new to Telugu theatre audiences. The legendary Surabhi Theatre (Sri Venkateswara Surabhi Theatre), a family-run theatre group, has been regaling audiences with mythological dramas for around 140 years. While the group regularly stages Bhakta Prahalada and Sri Krishna Leelalu in auditoriums, its celebrated production remains Maya Bazaar.

“The Mayabazar movie released in 1957 was inspired by the play staged by Surabhi in 1952,” notes the group’s actor-director Jayachandra Varma. “Special effects in our plays started only from 1910; till then, we had only rolling curtains.”

It is interesting to note how traditional troupes and technology-led productions approach special effects differently. Ghatotkacha’s illuminated gadha and Abhimanyudu’s arrows were among the highlights of Surabhi’s Mayabazar, staged recently at the Taramgam festival.

“When Ghatotkacha gets angry, the lights inside the gadha are switched on remotely to symbolise 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 glasses, while the actor or backstage crew switches on a handheld battery. When the stage lights dim and Ghatotkacha casts his spells in anger, the blue light cuts through the darkness,” says Jayachandra.

The prison-door opening scene is another jaw-dropping moment in Surabhi’s Sri Krishna Leelalu. A key tucked into the waistband of the demon Bahulodharudu’s costume appears to move towards the jail door and break the lock open. According to Jayachandra, the effect is achieved manually using stage mechanics and requires the coordination of four artistes and six technicians.

Tradition meets technology in Rajadhiraaj, which puts the spotlight on tech, pre-production and planning across around 12 departments, with 300 cues and 100 cues dedicated to lighting and sound design. A little girl asks questions to two storytellers on stage as the narrative moves from Mathura and Gokul to Vrindavan.

“It feels like a film on stage, taking the audience from one world to another flawlessly and seamlessly,” says Shruti. Blending live elements, physical props and VFX, the Vrindavan sequence features dancers playing peacocks, a bridge on which Radha longingly waits for Krishna, and LED lighting effects that create the gardens of Vrindavan.

“A lot of technology has gone into it, but in an organic way. In the end, we hope the audience does not identify the technology but simply enjoys the experience,” adds Shruti.

For Shruti, the emphasis on grandeur and technology is ultimately meant to enhance the storytelling without distracting from the narrative. “We have only taken inspiration from iconic institutions, learned from traditional art forms and put them together using newer technology. The amalgamation is to take from the roots of traditional storytelling and present them through contemporary tools,” she says.

Rajadhiraaj Yatra – Krishna Leela Aapke Dwar and Krishna Katha will be staged at Shilparamam on October 2 and October 31, respectively. Tickets: BookMyShow.