Insights that empowered my theater… | by Sulalita Devi Dasi | Nov, 2025
Insights that empowered my theater performance and how they can empower our life too.
Chaitanya Prabhu (on the right, playing the soul) & His wife Ilavati Mataji (on the left, playing Material Nature) posing for their philosophical pantomime drama “Long Dream”
In this essay I would like to honor my drama teacher Chaitanya Prabhu. He is not only an incredibly talented devotional actor and director, but also a very sincere, knowledgeable Vaisnava and therapist. He inspired me by his instructions, dramas, classes, kirtans, example and service. Let us honor a fraction of his priceless contribution into my life and the lives of many others.
“You are not Lalita that is trying to act like Krishna.”
I am going to focus on this particular drama he directed for Gaura Purnima celebration in Moscow, it was either 2005 or 2006. It was called “Nimai” and consisted of two stories.
The first is when Nimai was kidnapped, everyone was searching for Him, but he simply bewildered the thieves who tried to steal him, so they ended up bringing him right back home. The second is when a learned brahmana visited the house of Jagannath Misra, and Nimai kept eating the offerings he prepared for his Gopala deity, which culminated in this incredible personal revelation of how Nimai is the same Krishna that he worshipped.
I was playing Krishna.
Nimai was supposed to hide behind the altar and from the other side I was supposed to come out, make few steps, play the flute and then bless the sincere devotee brahmana.
I was like 10-11 years old at that time. And I loved the stage. I was performing since I was 3 years old, singing, playing in dramas, and as a child I was mainly doing what we were told, there was not much deep philosophy or clear awareness and intention behind performance.
But this time it was different.
Chaitanya Prabhu watched me doing my part and then tried to make me understand something very deep. You know, how they say that real masters of their craft can explain most complex stuff even to a 5 year old? So, in plain words, Chaitanya Prabhu told me,
“See, you act like Lalita that is trying to act like Krishna. When you play Krishna you are not Lalita anymore. Allow Krishna to manifest Himself on the stage through you.”
I tried to play the part again.
Chaitanya Prabhu watched, and continued to explain,
“See, it’s just like there is a tap inside your heart. If you open the tap – then Krishna’s mercy can flow from that tap. Don’t keep the tap closed, you must open the tap for the Lord to manifest through you on the stage.”
So like that we rehearsed again and again and I tried to imbibe and manifest these beautiful, deep instructions.
As a small child I used to watch Chaitanya Prabhu on the stage in these amazing dramas where he, Karuna Avatar Prabhu, Mahidhar Prabhu, Chaitanya prabhu’s wife Ilavati Mataji, and so many other talented devotees performed such awesome productions at big festivals in the temple in Moscow and other cities. Their dramas left an impression within my heart. They were not just some bits of entertainment, those were real windows to the spiritual world. And all the participants were these amazing, sincere, truly devotional, yet professional actors.
To read the complete article and/or watch the video please click here: https://medium.com/@Sulalita/open-the-tap-of-your-heart-3f7455df765b