Rakhi Sawant's judging a drag competition at Delhi's The Lalit

The one and only Rakhi Sawant is one of the judges for a drag lip-sync competition at Delhi’s The LaLiT on August 22. Phew. I’ve managed to forgo the urge to break my internal style guide and type Rakhi Sawant in all caps. She joins drag artist Zeesh and RuPaul's Drag Race India's Lush Monsoon on the judging panel for The Battle Royale II.

This year, the competition also happens to be the launch pad for Kitty Su Beauty, the nightlife brand's first foray into what it's billing as India's first queer-led beauty label. Everything lands on August 22 at The Crystal Ballroom, The LaLiT New Delhi.

The format itself hasn't changed since past editions, because well, why fix what isn't broken: elimination-round lip-syncs judged on charisma, precision, storytelling and stage presence, narrowing down to two finalists before a wildcard entrant shows up to complicate everyone's plans. 

Who’s performing?

This year's lineup pulls talent from across the country. Velvet Vortex arrives having already won in Mumbai, Noor Sins carries the House of Sins' considerable winning streak, Bengaluru sends both newcomer Dark Fantasy and reigning comic favourite Miss Bhenji, Delhi's own Amit The Shining Star gets a direct entry (home advantage?), and Trixie Prema shows up as Bengaluru's defending champion. Betta Naan Stop returns as emcee, a job she's held since the very first edition. At minimum, someone in this lineup knows exactly what they're doing.

‘Watching Battle Royale grow from one competition in Delhi into a national platform travelling across cities has been incredibly emotional. This year's edition is our biggest, most ambitious and most exciting yet,’ says Betta Naan Stop. 

The winning queen walks away with the crown, sceptre and sash (duh) plus a sponsored stay across The LaLiT's hotel portfolio, a haul of Kitty Su Beauty products, and a spot on the brand's winners' tour.

The beauty line opens with a debut lipstick collection, developed by founder Cyril Feuillebois and makeup artist Hash Brownie. Keshav Suri, Executive Director of The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group, says, ‘With Kitty Su Beauty, we're building on that legacy in a new way, extending that same freedom into beauty and self-expression.’ 

As for what the judging's actually meant to reward, Zeesh comes close to a mission statement. ‘Battle Royale has become one of the country's most exciting drag platforms because it rewards originality just as much as technical excellence.’ Rakhi Sawant herself, for her part, has never once needed a stage for that.

Time Out tip: While you’re at The LaLiT, we recommend these cocktails: The Lalit, the Kitty Su Punch and the Bloody Madhavi if you’re looking to get hammered.

Details

When: August 22, 8pm onwards

Where: The Crystal Ballroom, The LaLiT New Delhi, Fire Brigade Lane, Barakhamba, New Delhi, Delhi 110001

Price: ₹1,000 per person. ₹500 redeemable on food and beverages.

Tickets: Book here.