Continuing on with introducing you to the writers behind the new Chai with Rai series An Ode: Reframing the Classics- welcoming to the Chai room Punya Rajput.
She wrote a short story titled The Sabhā No Longer Stands which reimagines Draupadi, not as a divine heroine, but as a woman confronting the shame, jealousy, and emotional labor imposed on her by a heteropatriarchal world. Through a deeply affective conversation with Krishna, she lays bare the moral contradictions, expectations, and embodied violence present in society. Her ...
Continuing on with introducing you to the writers behind the new Chai with Rai series An Ode: Reframing the Classics- welcoming to the Chai room Punya Rajput.
She wrote a short story titled The Sabhā No Longer Stands which reimagines Draupadi, not as a divine heroine, but as a woman confronting the shame, jealousy, and emotional labor imposed on her by a heteropatriarchal world. Through a deeply affective conversation with Krishna, she lays bare the moral contradictions, expectations, and embodied violence present in society. Her body becomes a site of symbolic control, her desires policed, her identity fragmented.
P.S- you can stream the story now on our Patreon channel HERE. Speaking of this episode we definitely discuss mythology, Punya’s storytelling experience, she was in the midst of her masters- so discussing academia and creativity. The path and trajectory of an actor in India vs UK . So, I cannot wait for you to listen to this episode and just get some good ol nuggets.
Punya's Bio:
Punya is a freelance creative who believes in the power of stories—on stage, on screen, and on the page. A proud member and ambassador of the National Youth Theatre, she’s brought her love for performance to short films, ads, and creative spaces in both India and the UK.
With a background in sociology and a master’s in education policy, her work weaves together research and creativity. Her dissertation explored drama-based pedagogy and how emotion, imagination, and connection shape how we learn about gender.
She hopes to tell stories that spark something—joy, reflection, maybe even a little magic.
Big feelings, big laughs, and a strong belief that everything’s better with a little chaos and a lot of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Topics Breakdown:
- Storytellers and Styles of writing that have shaped an understanding of text and building worlds as a storyteller.
- Balancing surrealism, subtext and access as a storyteller.
- Process as an actor.
- Working and process as a South Asian Actor.
- Working as an actor in India vs in the UK.
- Passion for storytelling and connection to mythology .
- The writing and audio story The Sabhā No Longer Stands for An Ode: Reframing the Classics .
To listen to the short story, subscribe to Patreon and become a Patron/ supporter of Chai with Rai.
Social
Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_ & https://twitter.com/chaiwithrai_ & https://www.tiktok.com/@chaiwithrai
Guest: https://www.instagram.com/punya_rrajput/ & https://www.instagram.com/noirae00/
Links
Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithraihomepage & https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_
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