Trisha Das: The idea of masculinity is outdated and needs to change

Trisha Das' book "Misters Kuru: A Return To Mahabharata" gives a modernday twist to "Mahabharata", and the National award-winning documentary filmmaker and author highlights the importance of breaking the idea of toxic masculinity to establish gender equality. She added: "Unless toxic masculinity is stopped, we cannot smash patriarchy. Gender equality and women empowerment struggle will continue. If a man is emotionally sensitive and expressive in love, if he is tender by nature and does not fit into the mould of patriarchy, he is ostracised by society. In a way, men are forced to fit into a standard and it is high time to break that down."

As the story in the book revolves around the five Pandavas, the author said she attempted to interpret each character in the modern context and the new-age idea of gender equality. This book is the sequel of her book "Ms Draupadi Kuru: After The Pandavas", released earlier.

Asked if she faced any challenges to understand the nuanced emotions of men, being a woman, she promptly replied: "It was challenging, especially if you are not of the same gender. But I approached it differently. Yes, men and women are expected to play different roles in society, but at the end of the day, all the emotions are humane. In my writing, that is what I attempted to bring out!"