‘Shakuni’: Another untold truth of Mahabharata returns to stage (photos)
The festival, which had been running at Kantipur Theater since Baisakh 25, ended with the staging of the play conceived and directed by Daulat Vaid.
KATHMANDU: The Indian play Shakuni, which offers a bold new interpretation of one of the Mahabharata’s most controversial characters, concluded the Tri-Nation Theatre Festival 2083 in Kathmandu on Sunday.
The festival, which had been running at Kantipur Theater since May 8, ended with the staging of the play conceived and directed by Daulat Vaid.
Rather than revisiting historical events alone, Shakuni explores the silence, injustice and hidden emotional wounds buried beneath them.
According to director Vaid, the play presents Shakuni not as a symbol of revenge, but as a memory shaped by injustice accepted under the guise of dharma.
The production challenges the traditional portrayal of Shakuni as a villain, instead examining the process and circumstances that led to his transformation.
Through powerful symbolism, the mirror used in the play reflects a society that sees the truth but refuses to acknowledge it.
Similarly, Gandhari’s act of blindfolding herself is portrayed not merely as a personal choice, but as a representation of an era that chose order over justice.
Featuring a compelling solo performance by Shrivardhan Trivedi, the play does not attempt to declare Shakuni right or wrong.
Instead, it delves into the complex relationship between guilt, silence and systemic injustice, leaving the audience with unsettling questions about morality and power.
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