Advanced Mahabharata Performance Traditions Course | Tamil Nadu Epic Theatre
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 63 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 17 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Advanced Course in Performance Traditions of the Mahabharata in Tamil Nadu - 2
Delve into the profound and vibrant world where ancient epic meets living performance. This advanced 12-week undergraduate course, offered in the Humanities and Social Sciences, is the second part of a comprehensive exploration into the unique performance traditions of the Mahabharata as practiced in Tamil Nadu. Guided by an expert with deep, hands-on research experience, this course moves beyond textual study to understand the epic as a dynamic, communal, and transformative experience.
About the Instructor: Prof. Sashikanth Ananthachari
Learn from a distinguished practitioner and scholar. Prof. Sashikanth Ananthachari of IIT Madras is not only an academic but an acclaimed filmmaker who has been researching these traditions for over fifteen years. His seminal film, ‘Kelai Draupadai’ (Listen Draupadi), has received international recognition, winning the Best Foreign Film award at the DIY Film Festival, Los Angeles (2016) and being an official selection at the prestigious BlowUp Chicago International Arthouse Film Festival (2016). His unique perspective bridges scholarly insight with cinematic storytelling, offering students an unparalleled learning experience.
About the Course
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the intricate architecture of a 20-day village festival where the Mahabharata is not merely staged but lived. We will dissect how the epic unfolds as a tripartite experience: as a sacred ritual, a narrated story (Bharatham), and enacted theatre (Koothu).
The journey begins with a ten-day exposition of the epic, building towards the pivotal moment of the killing of Bakasura—the first narrative performed in all three forms. The course deeply engages with the concept of repetition, a cornerstone of Indian narrative, exploring its role in transmitting oral traditions and invoking collective memory.
We will investigate how the Mahabharata performed here is not a direct translation but an invocation of Vyasa's text, influenced by literary giants like Kalidasa and aesthetic theories from the Natyashastra, Anandavardhana, and Abhinavagupta. A key focus is the “distanciation” created by separating ritual, story, and theatre, which provides the audience a crucial space for introspection and personal engagement with the epic's moral and philosophical dilemmas.
The course also contrasts dramatic narratives with epic traditions, examining differing notions of the “author,” the “actor,” and their relationship with the audience. Central to our study is the Bharatham storytelling sessions, the foundational layer upon which the entire festival is constructed, which serves to recapitulate the epic for contemporary audiences and draw them into its timeless world.
Prerequisites: While it is preferred that students have completed “Performance Traditions of the Mahabharata in Tamil Nadu - Course 1,” it is not mandatory. A keen interest in Indian epics, performance studies, or cultural anthropology is sufficient.
Course Layout: A 12-Week Journey
| Week | Chapters & Topics |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to the Mahabharata; Traditions in Tamil Nadu; The Idea of the Chariot. |
| Week 2 | Custodians of the Festival; Festivals as Total Theatre; Potturaja and the Anti-War Theme. |
| Week 3 | The Birth of Vyasa; The Lunar Dynasty; The Birth of Yayati. |
| Week 4 | Shakuntala and Dushyanta; Shantanu & Birth of Bhishma; Birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu & Vidura. |
| Week 5 | Birth of Krishna; Birth of Dharmaraja; Gurukula Parva. |
| Week 6 | Birth of Draupadi; Hidimbi the Fortune Teller; The Killing of Bakasura. |
| Week 7 | Introduction to Koothu Theatre; Vil Valaippu (Bending of the Bow). |
| Week 8 | Marriage of Draupadi; Subhadra Kalyanam; Rajasuya Yaagam. |
| Week 9 | Attempted Disrobing of Draupadi & Krishna's Gift; Arjuna's Tapas. |
| Week 10 | Killing of Kichaka; Krishna as the Emissary. |
| Week 11 | Aravan Kalabali (Start of War); Karna Mosham. |
| Week 12 | The Eighteenth Day's War & Duryodhana's Lament; Coronation & Ashwamedha Yaagam. |
Key Learning Resources
Students will engage with a rich selection of primary and secondary texts, including:
- Primary Epic: Manmatha Nath Dutt's English translation of the Mahabharata.
- Foundational Scholarship: Alf Hiltebeitel's seminal work, The Cult of Draupadi.
- Critical Essays: Ways and Reasons for Thinking about the Mahābhārata as a Whole edited by Vishwa Adluri.
- Course Materials: Official video transcripts from the course.
Supplementary academic resources include works by Bimal Krishna Matilal on ethics, Jonardon Ganeri on philosophy of mind and attention, and deeper dives into aesthetic theory (Dhvanyāloka) and Mahabharata scholarship by Hiltebeitel and others.
Who Should Enroll?
This course is ideal for undergraduate students in Humanities, Social Sciences, Theatre, and Cultural Studies. It is also highly valuable for performers, writers, artists, and anyone fascinated by the living traditions of Indian epics, oral storytelling, and the intersection of ritual and performance. Students will be encouraged to conduct fieldwork and draw parallels to performance traditions in their own regions, making the learning personally relevant and expansive.
Join us to experience the Mahabharata not as a frozen text, but as a breathing, communal performance that continues to shape and reflect the cultural consciousness of Tamil Nadu.
Enroll Now →