A play on Shikhandi at Alliance Francaise of Madras

CHENNAI: Shikhandi, the controversial character from the

Hindu

epic

Mahabharata

, is often remembered for his determination to avenge Bhishma. Shikhandi, who was princess of Kashi Amba in her previous lifetime, is left unmarried and dejected after she and her sisters are taken by force by Bhishma. She is born as a girl child

Shikhandi

to Panchala’s king Drupada in her next birth and grows up to fight in the Kurukshetra war on the side of the Pandavas.


Veshadharis, a Chennai-based group, will bring this character to life in a play titled ‘Shikhandi – a story of revenge from Mahabharata’, directed by Chandrasekar Venkataraman and starring Vinayashree Jagadeesh, Nandita Sri, Ashwani Mohanlal, Arathi Krishnakumar, MN Arvind, Janaki Suresh and Shubh Mukherjee.

“Shikhandi, a pivotal character in turning around the war of Mahabharata is seldom explored in popular culture and is an unsung hero in our mythology. Determination, will-power and the discovery of self are some of his characteristics that stand out. This play conveys that dharma comes full circle. And for this, the use of adharma is justified,” says Chandrasekar.

The play will be performed at Alliance Francaise of Madras,

Nungambakkam

, on February 16, at 4.15pm and 7.15pm.