The Peacock Prince

From the despondency of unrequited dreams, arises the scion of the Panchala kingdom, albeit in a new birth, unable to shake off the pain and anguish caused to her gender; the shackling and abuse. Amba takes birth in Drupada’s palace, a gift bestowed by Shiva. Raised with the garb and education of a boy, she believes herself to be one… and in a chance universal shake of the dice transforms into one, by an ancient procedure. Now the young prince seeks redemption that can only be granted by the death of Bheesma, her abductor and bete noire.

The play arises from the ithihasa Mahabharata, but chooses to seek answers and resolutions in a modern-day society that exposes its confusion, fear, and lack of empathy for those who identify themselves beyond the binary. The play is an attempt to seek new definitions, new meaning to roles and responsibilities that have been historically gender specific.

The play has had ten shows so far performed in Bangalore and Chennai.