As part of World Theatre Day 2025 celebration, Sunaparanta-Goa Centre for the Arts, in association with Abhivyaktee – Panaji will be presenting ‘Agyaat-Katha’, a special theatre performance on March 29 and 30, at 7 p.m. on both days.
This production explores a re-imagined episode (Agyaat-Katha) from the Lok-Mahabharat, delving into the delicate interplay of masculine and feminine energies—concepts that transcend gender and manifest uniquely in each individual.
“‘Agyaat-Katha’ began with a question: What happens when a warrior unlearns war? Arjuna’s time as Brihannala is often dismissed as a disguise, but what if it was a deeper, honest confrontation with identity?” explains Antara Bedi who has written the script.
Patriarchy, she states, doesn’t just oppress women—it traps men too. It upholds masculinity as strength and femininity as weakness. “Boys are taught that gentleness and vulnerability are shameful, that to be a man is to dominate, to fight. But what if true strength lies in embracing all parts of ourselves?” she asks.
This play, she says, is about the suffocating weight of these expectations, the violence they breed, and the quiet defiance of fluidity. “It is about the cost of fitting in and the courage it takes to be whole,” says Bhide
Structured in the traditional Goan Katha Gaayan (story recitation) format, the performance blends elements of Indian theatre and dance to bring to life an untold story from this timeless epic.
“In this production, audiences can expect a blend of folk melodies, semi-classical dance and music phrases alongside stylised movements infused with raw emotion, weaving together a rustic tapestry of Indian theatre styles,” says director and production in charge Dr. Saish Deshpande. He adds that he hopes that audience leaves with a sense of wonder, a deeper connection to the epic that binds us, and an appreciation for the ways in which theatre speaks to both the past and the present.
