SIFAS Productions and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay will present Shikhandi – The Warrior Within from Nov 28 to 30 at the Esplanade Theatre Studio, unveiling a powerful dance-theatre retelling of one of the Mahabharata’s most complex and compelling figures.
The 90-minute production, staged as part of Kalaa Utsavam, blends the rhythmic dynamism of Kathak with the sculptural precision of Bharatanatyam. Tickets start at $38, with Culture Pass concessions available.
At the heart of the production is the story of Shikhandi – born a princess, raised as a warrior, and transformed from female to male – whose journey raises timeless questions about gender, destiny and identity.
Through movement, music and visual storytelling, Shikhandi – The Warrior Within explores the interplay of masculine and feminine energies, tracing a path from struggle to liberation and from silence to self-realisation.
Artistic Director Gauri Diwakar said the creative process demanded a deep exploration of the character’s emotional landscape.
“The story required that I look beyond the obvious – to explore the inner turbulence of a being caught between two worlds, between dharma and personal truth,” she said.
SIFAS Executive Director Menaka Gopalan highlighted the production’s contemporary resonance.
“Shikhandi is a testament to the transformative power of the arts – to heal, to question, and to unite. It is my hope that this performance touches your heart as profoundly as it has touched ours.”
The production features an original score by Samiullah Khan and Dr Sridhar Vasudevan, with evocative lighting design by Kalaiarasan K.
The cast brings together accomplished dancers and emerging talent, including Jyotika Joshi and K H Haritha as Amba, Minhaz Khan as Shikhandi, P K Geethanadhan as Shalva and P N Vikas as Bhishma.
They are supported by an ensemble of SIFAS tutors and students: Guru Aastha Chattaraj, Guru Sreeliji M, Anjali Easwaran, Anuja Varaprasad, Ananya Nallapuraju, Arundhathi Vijayakrishnan, Dhivya Rajaram, Eashaa Pillai, Gopikka N L, Kashish Singhal, Samala Selva Ram and Vismaya Dinesh.
Working closely with the ensemble, Ms Diwakar said she sought to push both technique and expression. “I wanted them to feel Shikhandi’s pain, power and transcendence – not just perform it,” she noted.
Beyond its mythological roots, Shikhandi – The Warrior Within serves as a modern reflection on identity, self-assertion and the courage to challenge societal erasure.
The production asks urgent questions: Who defines identity? What makes a warrior? Where does dharma lie when one’s truth is denied? In doing so, Shikhandi emerges as a universal symbol of fluidity, resilience and the right to self-definition.
santosh@sph.com.sg
Shikhandi – The Warrior Within
When: Nov 28, Fri, 8pm Nov 29,, Sat, 8pm Nov 30, Sun, 3pm Duration: 1hr 30mins Where: Esplanade Theatre Studio Tickets: https://www.esplanade.com/
