In Between Epic And Eternity

Shikhandi
Langauges: Marathi, english, hindi
Starring: Meher Acharia-Dar, Mahnaz Damania, Vikrant Dhote, Karan Desai, Nikhil Murali, Srishti Srivastava. Writer-Director: Faezeh Jalali
Rating: ****

Those familiar with the Mahabh­­­­a­rata in any of its forms will know that there are no easy answers to the questions raised by the multitude of characters in the innumerable sub-plots mapping the epic. A swarm of ideas is also in battle at Kurukshetra. ­

One character through whom the epic raises difficult questions around gender is Shikha­ndi, a girl born to King Drupad (father of Draupadi too), who raises her as a boy, tea­ches her martial skills, even gets her married to another girl. Shikhandi grows up feeling traumatised and confused and even tries to kill herself for not having a penis. She then gets ‘manhood’ on loan from a Yaksha. However, on the...