What if the villain we feared was simply a shadow cast by misunderstood light? Since 1977, Suyodhana , a compelling Kannada play by playwright and director S.V. Krishna Sharma, has invited audiences to reimagine one of mythology’s most vilified characters - Duryodhana - not as a tyrant, but as a man shaped by prejudice, ambition, and deep moral convictions. Rooted in Kannada literary traditions and inspired by the 10th-century poet Ranna’s epic, which refers to him respectfully as Suyodhana “one who is exceedingly difficult to conquer”, the play challenges our binary notions of good and evil. A Shift in Perspective Before he became the infamous Duryodhana, the Kaurava prince was known as Suyodhana. Even in his youth, he demonstrated a startling awareness of social inequities, especially caste-based discrimination. He was disturbed by the humiliation of noble souls like Vidura, Ekalavya, and Karna, men of extraordinary merit who were sidelined due to their lineage. Suyodhana’s decisi...
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