Archive · 18 Nov 2025
Actor Alekhya Punjala Brings Dushala's Voice to Life in Theatrical Performance
Actor and dancer Alekhya Punjala is performing as Dushala, the neglected sister of the Kauravas in the Mahabharata.
She wants to show how Dushala feels and how she raises her son to avoid conflict, reflecting the silence around women's experiences in the epic and real life.
The performance will be a mix of Kuchipudi and folk dance movements.
Actor and dancer Dr. Alekhya Punjala is staging a theatrical performance as Dushala from the Mahabharata
The performance is directed by Vinay Varma of Sutradhar and will be staged at Ravindra Bharathi on November 19
Dushala is portrayed as a neglected daughter who wants her son to avoid conflict
Alekhya uses this story to highlight the silence surrounding women's experiences in the epic and real life
The 90-minute Hindi monologue will incorporate elements of Kuchipudi and folk movement
- Who
- Actor and dancer Dr. Alekhya Punjala
- What
- Staging a theatrical performance as Dushala from the Mahabharata
- When
- November 19, 2022
- Where
- Ravindra Bharathi
- Why
- To bring Dushala's voice and experiences to life, highlighting the silence around women's stories
Pro-Dushala Perspective
Traditional Mahabharata View
Dushala's Voice
Pro-Dushala Perspective
Alekhya believes Dushala's story deserves to be told from her perspective, challenging the traditional focus on male characters
Traditional Mahabharata View
Traditional interpretations may not emphasize Dushala's experiences, focusing more on the main male characters and conflicts
- Performance Duration
- 90 minutes
- Language
- Hindi
- Dance Styles Incorporated
- Kuchipudi and folk movement
- Collaborating Organizations
- Trishna Kuchipudi Dance Academy, Sutradhar, and the government's department of language and culture