National School of Drama’s annual theatre festival goes international
It’s that time of the year once again, when Delhi’s winter brings upon a plethora of cultural activities. The pleasant weather is perfect timing for the National School of Drama’s flagship annual theatre festival Bharat Rang Mahotsav. In its silver jubilee this year, one of the world’s largest theatre festivals is going international for the first time. ‘Bharangam’, as it is fondly called, is set to take place from January 28 to February 16, across 13 cities in India and abroad.
For the first time, the institution is expanding the festival beyond India, with satellitechapters scheduled in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Alongside the festival’s epicentre in Delhi, Indian satellite locations include Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhatinda, Bhopal, Goa, Gorakhpur, Jaipur, Khairagarh and Ranchi.
From Betiyan Mannu Ki
| Photo Credit:
Courtesy: NSD
“Bharat Rang Mahotsav has become a quintessential theatre festival on the global stage with its expansive approach. It has not only served as a platform for theatre performances from around the world but has also offered opportunities for the amalgamation of various traditional performing art forms. Additionally, it has facilitated knowledge-sharing and idea-exchange among individuals from the dramatic arts and other creative fields,” said Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director of the National School of Drama.
Notably, the Bharat Rang Mahotsav this year coincides with the 65th anniversary of the National School of Drama, and the 60th anniversary of the National School of Drama Repertory Company. To commemorate these milestones, the Repertory Company is celebrating the Rang Shashthi theatre festival series, staging some of its most popular plays on various platforms across the nation. The Company will also present its productions during the mahotsav in locations such as Colombo, Kathmandu, Bengaluru and Goa.
From the play Bidesia
| Photo Credit:
Courtesy: NSD
‘One Expression, Supreme Creation’, the slogan for Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2025, resonates with the spirit of unity in creative expression, and the oneness of all. Noted actor and NSD alumnus Rajpal Yadav has been named the Rang Doot (festival ambassador) for this year. “To return to NSD as a Rangdoot for Bharangam 2025, after graduating as a student in 1997, feels like life has come full circle. As I celebrate 25 years in cinema, I’m deeply moved to be part of this incredible gathering. It’s truly commendable to witness the high level of artistry achieved here, often with limited resources, a stark contrast to the world of cinema,” shared Rajpal.
Spanning a period of 20 days, this ‘Mahakumbh of theatre’ will feature more than 200 unique productions from nine different countries. International theatre groups participating in the said festival are hailing from Russia, Italy, Germany, Norway, Czech Republic, Nepal, Taiwan, Spain and Sri Lanka. The opening ceremony of Bharat Ranga Mahotsav will be held on January 28 at the Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi, featuring a musical evening titled Rang Sangeet by the NSD Repertory Company. During the event, NSD artistes will perform songs composed by various music directors of the NSD Repertory since its inception. “The plays, 23 of which are by women directors this year, are in various categories, including classical, folk, tribal, contemporary, verbal, non-verbal, realistic, musicals and those for children. Apart from this, there is also theatre with various disenfranchised communities, including Santhal tribes, sex workers, transgender persons and senior citizens,” informed Chittaranjan.
The release of Bharat Rang Mahotsav – 2025 poster
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Special Arrangement
Ambience performances of folk and traditional forms from across India will entertain audiences outside various gathering spaces; director-audience dialogues, seminars and masterclasses will explore various facets of theatre in the form of allied events, sparking stimulating conversations and insights. Moreover, a dedicated programme on literary arts, ‘Shruti’, will feature book launches and discussions on literature. Further, attendees can immerse themselves in the vibrant Rang Haat, and explore the diverse offerings at the Food Bazaar, letting the spirit of theatre truly captivate them.
After securing the World Book of Records, London’s Certificate for ‘Largest Number of Artistic Performances on a Common Theme’ with 2024’s Jan Bharat Rang project, NSD has initiated the ‘Vishwa Jan Rang’, virtual performances of short plays by NRIs across seven continents worldwide, and by the youth of India. That, along with the monumental success of the festival in terms of its scale and wider reach, bolsters the confidence of NSD officials in securing a place for the festival in the Guinness World Records for Largest Theatre Festival (Plays) this year.
BRM 2025 will also feature a parallel student-led fiesta, Advitiya 2025. Their festival features street theatre, folk bands, open stage, talks and more, fully curated and conducted by the current batch of first, second and third year students. “In the coming years, we aim to broaden the scope of this festival further, and extend it to other continents,” said Chittaranjan.
Published – January 23, 2025 04:31 pm IST
