Educational Media Reviews Online

Draupadi Unleashed is a feature-length narrative film adapted from Nisha Sabharwal’s novel of the same name. The film is set in Quetta, a geographical region of present-day Pakistan that was, in 1934 when the central action of the film takes place, part of British India and sometimes referred to as “Little London.” This area was decimated by a powerful earthquake in 1935, soon after the action of this film concludes. This historical fact enhances the impact of the story, as well as that of the beautiful landscapes, homes, and gardens featured as part of the lush production design of the film.

The central storyline of Draupadi Unleashed focuses primarily on the arranged marriage and related experiences of a sixteen-year-old girl named Indira. The film opens in 1915, and viewers are first introduced to Indira’s mother, Sita, when she herself is a teenage girl nervously meeting her husband-to-be for the first time. The action soon jumps ahead to the now-widowed Sita and her teenaged daughter, Indira, who is preparing for her own upcoming arranged marriage. The action develops from here.

This film at first appears to be a straightforward romantic drama, featuring an all-star cast, and a seemingly familiar “love triangle” plot, in which Indira is caught between familial pressure to marry a smooth-talking, sophisticated, and wealthy suitor, and the longing to follow her heart and pursue another, less aristocratic boy, who is also her cousin. It is, however, made clear that young women in Indira’s position are not expected to choose their spouses, nor to marry for love. Beyond this, both young men are revealed to be controlling and less than ideal partners; one is involved in an ongoing relationship with another woman, and the other deserts Indira when she deviates from his planned course of action regarding their relationship. As the film continues, elements of mysticism and mystery increasingly factor into the action, mingling with realism throughout the film as the storyline moves beyond the realm of realistic romantic drama into something more fantastical.

Viewers interested in interpersonal communication and family relations will find numerous examples to explore and analyze in Draupadi Unleashed. Those interested in feminism may find the film worth viewing for its examples of gender-based rights, responsibilities, and communication. Those interested in history, fashion, or architecture of this historical period are likely enjoy the lavish production design, which includes opulent period sets, architecture, and costumes. Those in the field of religious studies may be drawn in by the connections drawn between Indira and the title figure of Draupadi, a deity whose story is told in the Mahabharata.

On the whole, Draupadi Unleashed strikes the reviewer as more of an entertaining than educational film, albeit one with opportunities to observe gender roles and communication styles, along with other cultural elements of 1930s India. With this in mind, the film is recommended with reservations for inclusion in academic collections and use in educational settings. Potential viewers should note that the film includes two scenes featuring sexual content, and another in which a character is found dead after committing suicide.

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