Nayab Midha, an Indian spoken-word poet, has successfully expanded the reach of Hindi poetry with her theatrical production 'Rajkumari,' grossing ₹3 crore during a 15-city tour across North America. This tour, produced in collaboration with Tarashna and Oho Productions Inc., included major cities in the US and Canada, selling over 6,500 tickets and showcasing Hindi spoken-word storytelling in established theatre venues.
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The achievement signifies a remarkable evolution for a genre that has typically thrived in intimate settings like cafés and small venues. 'Rajkumari' illustrates the capacity for Hindi poetry to captivate larger audiences beyond India, including significant international markets. Premiering in 2023 for small audiences in India, the production has since reached more than one lakh attendees overall, culminating in a sold-out show at New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, a first for a spoken-word artist in such a venue.
The North American tour featured performances in cities including Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, the Bay Area, Dallas, Phoenix, Seattle, Raleigh, Washington DC, New Jersey, Detroit, and New York, along with stops in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary. The positive response from audiences, particularly within the South Asian diaspora, highlighted the stories rooted in the Hindi language and contemporary Indian experiences.
Midha reflected on the journey, noting, "When we first envisioned Rajkumari, it was an intimate piece of my heart meant for small rooms. Seeing it evolve into a multi-continental movement that fills fine arts theatres and stadiums is completely surreal." She emphasized that the success is not solely about ticket sales but also demonstrates that contemporary Hindi spoken-word poetry can appeal to an international audience, illustrating how narratives about human emotions resonate across borders.
Parul Mundra, founder of Tarashna, explained that the decision to pursue larger venues stemmed from a strong belief in the artist and the production's potential. She remarked on the overwhelming experience of witnessing theatres filled with audiences engaging deeply with Hindi poetry.
'Rajkumari,' which translates to 'princess' in Hindi, blends spoken-word poetry with theatrical elements, live instrumentation, humor, and audience interaction. The production delves into themes of identity, emotional resilience, self-discovery, and modern relationships, incorporating personal vulnerability into its live performance.
In light of the positive reception during its North American run, 'Rajkumari' is expected to return to the US for additional performances and plans to tour London and other European cities, further extending Midha’s mission to introduce contemporary Hindi poetry and storytelling to global audiences.