Kurukshetra (‘the land of the Kuru dynasty’) is the site of a battle taking place between two family clans, the Kurus and the Pandavas, the central figures of the Mahabharata. The Kathakali Kurukshetra portrays the preparations for the war and the final outcome with the decimation of the Kurus. Kurukshetra is adapted from the Kathakali Mahabharata, with the addition and expansion of the Gitopadesham (the Bhagawad Gita). The Duta (messenger) scene (not shown in this version) features a scene addition from Duta Vakhyam (the Envoy), a Sanskrit play by Bhasa.
Kurukshetra premiered at the Studio Theatre of the School of Fine Arts and Theatre (Thrissur, Kerala) on November 29, 2014.
Production: Danse Kalashas in partnership with the School of Fine Arts and Theatre, University of Calicut, Thrissur campus, Kerala, India. Thanks to Narayanan Vinod, Nalinan Pillai, K. K. Gopalakrishnan and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute.