Shikhandi, a prominent character in the Indian epic, the Mahabharata, embodies nonconformity, resilience and determination. Born a princess and raised as a warrior, her transformation from female to male reflects the complexities of gender, destiny and selfhood.

This powerful kathak presentation reimagines the enigmatic icon as both a legend and a living metaphor. Combining the dynamic footwork, nuanced expressions and rich narrative textures of kathak with the sculptural precision, rhythmic complexity and emotive depth of bharatanatyam, the production charts Shikhandi’s journey from pain to power and from silence to expression. Masculine and feminine, divine and human—dichotomies blur and intertwine, challenging binaries and revealing deeper truths.

This is not just a retelling; it is a reckoning. Who defines identity? What makes a warrior? Where does dharma lie when the world refuses to see your truth?

In Shikhandi – The Warrior Within, the mythic figure emerges as a timeless symbol of courage, fluidity, and self-assertion—a beacon for all who reclaim agency against rigid norms and social erasure.

Production Credits

Artistic Director and Lead Choreographer: Gauri Diwakar 

Music Composers: Samiullah Khan and Dr Sridhar Vasudevan 

Lighting Designer: Kalaiarasan K

Dancers:

Jyotika Joshi as Amba

Minhaz Khan as Shikhandi

Geethanadhan P K as Shalva

P N Vikas as Bhishma

K H Haritha as Amba

Aastha Chattaraj

Sreeliji Sreedharan

Anjali Easwaran

Anuja Varaprasad

Ananya Nallapuraju

Arundhathi Vijayakrishnan

Dhivya Rajaram

Eashaa Pillai

Gopikka N L

Kashish Singhal

Samala D/O Selva Ram

Vismaya Dinesh