In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Surpanakha is an ugly rakshasi who shamelessly proclaims her lust for Rama. When she is ridiculed and punished, she retaliates by inciting Ravana to abduct Sita.But there are more than 300 versions of the Ramayana. Ashavari Majumdar’s ‘Surpanakha’ draws on diverse versions like the Malay ‘Hikayat Seri Rama’, Vimalasuri’s Jain Ramayana and the Adhyatma Ramayana, to present new perspectives on Surpanakha - through her relationships with Ravana, Sita and Rama.

This production is divided in three parts-in the first part, Surpankha’s nose is cut off by Rama and she goes to Ravana for revenge. Was Surpanakha seeking revenge on Rama or was she motivated by sibling rivalry? In the Malay version, Ravana kills her husband –could this have spurred her on to plot his eventual downfall?

The first part explores a new perspective on the sibling relationship between Surpanakha and Ravana.

The second part revisits the relation between Sita and Surpanakha. Sita and Surpanakha are traditionally considered ‘opposites’-one is chaste, the other is ‘shameless’-but both are rejected by Rama.

The third part reimagines the various ways Surpanakha can imagine Rama-lover/saviour/ enigma?

Combining Kathak, theatre and digital media, this production presents Surpanakha’s story as not one, but many possible stories.