A quiet anticipation hung in the air as people walked into the Esplanade Theatre Studio on Nov 28 for the opening performance of Shikhandi – The Warrior Within.
Presented by SIFAS Productions and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay as part of this year’s Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts, the 90-minute dance-theatre piece promised to be more than just a reimagining of a Mahabharata episode. It was to be, as I discovered, a layered journey into the heart of identity, transformation, and truth.
At its core is the story of Shikhandi – once Amba, the princess wronged by Bhishma, reborn with the sole purpose of fulfilling a vow of vengeance. What unfolded on stage was not just myth retold, but myth relived – through movement, music, and a choreography that spoke with both fire and grace.
From the first moment, Shikhandi’s brilliance lay in how seamlessly it fused classical traditions with contemporary resonance. Kathak’s rhythmic dynamism met the sculptural precision of Bharatanatyam – not in contrast but in harmony.
Every beat of the ghungroo, every whirl, every mudra pulsed with raw emotion. The dancers didn’t perform the story; they embodied it.
Especially moving was the transition from Amba to Shikhandini to Shikhandi, performed with such conviction that the air in the theatre felt charged.
Artistic Director Gauri Diwakar’s vision was masterful. She dared to go beyond the obvious narratives of revenge and gender identity, excavating the inner conflict of someone suspended between two worlds – dharma and personal truth.
“I wanted them to feel Shikhandi’s pain, power and transcendence – not just perform it,” she said. And indeed, the dancers – both veterans and emerging artistes – responded with every fibre of their being.
One of the evening’s most articulate admirers was Minister for Law Edwin Tong, who officiated the opening night. In a Facebook post after the performance, he observed: “The splendour and glory of an ancient tale from the epic Mahabharata came to life on stage through a magnificent staging of Shikhandi.”
He praised the production as one of “many layers – resilience, innovation and determination, textured against themes of conflict, dichotomy and identity.”
What resonated especially with me was the exceptional blending of Bharatanatyam and Kathak, and how it was “beautifully choreographed and excellently executed”.
“The dancers brought the story to life through every deft turn and expression, every stamp of their feet and every shimmering ring of the ghungroos,” Mr Tong added, before congratulating SIFAS for a sold-out run and expressing hope that the show could reach wider audiences in the future.
The music and lighting were themselves characters in the unfolding drama. The original score by Samiullah Khan and Dr Sridhar Vasudevan provided both emotional undercurrents and rhythmic momentum, while K. Kalaiarasan’s evocative lighting design masterfully marked shifts in time, space, and emotional tone. The shadows and hues danced as much as the performers.
The cast included striking performances from Jyotika Joshi and K H Haritha as Amba, Minhaz Khan as Shikhandi, P K Geethanadhan as Shalva, and P N Vikas as Bhishma. They were ably supported by an ensemble of SIFAS tutors and students, who worked as one seamless unit. Their collective dedication showed in every synchronised movement and expression.
But beyond its technical excellence, Shikhandi – The Warrior Within was a meditation on something deeper. It asked bold, uncomfortable questions: Who defines gender? What makes a warrior? Can truth be inherited across lifetimes? What happens when your identity – the very essence of who you are – is rejected or erased by society?
Ancient mythologies, this production reminded us, are not relics but mirrors – reflecting our contemporary anxieties, debates, and journeys. In Shikhandi, we see someone who challenges binaries, questions norms, and insists on being seen. Their story – though thousands of years old – feels urgent, current, necessary.
In that sense, Shikhandi is not just about a forgotten warrior or a vow fulfilled. It is about all of us – anyone who has struggled to be understood, anyone who has been told they don’t belong, anyone whose truth lies between the lines.
RELATED STORIES
25 Nov 2025 16:13
