Dramatising the parallels between Arjuna and Achilles

Marrying French and Indian theatre, Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research, Pondicherry and the National School Of Arts And Techniques Du Théatre (ENSATT), Lyon, collaborated for the play He-Rose, at Tagore Theatre recently, partnered with French Embassy & French Institute in India.
The play is written by Nimmy Raphel and has been directed by Vinay Kumar while it is assisted by Amaud Guennad of ENSATT.
The play is the tragic story of two mythological heroes, Arjuna from Veda Vyasa’s Bhagavad Gita and Achilles from Homer’s Iliad. It is about two personalities from different cultures and between glory and tragedy.
The role of Arjuna was played by a French actor, while that of Achilles by essayed by an Indian actors.

He-Rose is a profound inquiry into the nature of 'Heroism', drawing parallels between iconic like Arjuna and Achilles. The production challenges conventional notions of heroism, inviting audiences to contemplate the interplay between vulnerability and courage. Through a series of thought-provoking sequences the play aims to celebrate the multifaceted nature of heroism.

What Achilles was to the Greeks at Troy, Arjuna was to the Pandavas at Kurukshetra. Though both were skilled warriors they were initially hesitant to join the war. However the death of their dear ones (Achilles friend and Arjuna's son) made them wage a war of revenge.

The exchange between Arjuna and Achilles involves questions such as for whom the war is waged, for man or the Gods, the agency of commanders over their destiny, and what constitutes true virtuousness and heroism. From both being reluctant warriors to swapping gender (Arjuna disguising as Brihannala/Achilles as Issa) that are also signifiers of a feminine side, the warriors change not just the rules of the game, but abandon the game itself; returning to their true selves and embracing what they truly believe in, or take simple pleasure from.