Gender Performance and the Construction of Masculinity in Anuja Chandramouli’s Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince

Author(s)	Ms. R.V. M Aarthi, Prof. Dr. A.A Jayashree Prabhakar
Country	India
Abstract	This article examines gender representation and the construction of masculine identity in Anuja Chandramouli’s Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince. Drawing from the Mahabharata and retold through a modern lens, Chandramouli’s narrative reimagines Arjuna not only as a warrior-hero but also as a complex figure negotiating expectations of duty, emotional vulnerability, and gendered performance. Through the lens of gender theory—particularly Judith Butler’s concept of performativity and Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity—this paper explores how Arjuna’s identity is shaped by sociocultural codes and epic conventions. It argues that the novel offers a nuanced depiction of masculinity as performative, fractured, and subject to continual negotiation within the mythological and moral frameworks of Hindu tradition.
Keywords	Masculine identity, emotional vulnerability, hegemonic masculinity
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025
Published On	2025-07-22
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.51669
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9t2d3

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research