It’s that time of the year again, when Delhi’s winter brings a host of cultural activities. This pleasant weather is the perfect time for Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the premier annual theater festival of the National School of Drama. In its silver jubilee this year, one of the world’s largest theater festivals is going international for the first time. ‘Bharangam’, as it is fondly called, is scheduled to take place from January 28 to February 16 across 13 cities in India and abroad.

For the first time, the organization is expanding the festival outside India through satellite.Chapters set in Nepal and Sri Lanka. With the center of the festival in Delhi, Indian satellite locations include Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bathinda, Bhopal, Goa, Gorakhpur, Jaipur, Khairagarh and Ranchi.

“Bharat Rang Mahotsav with its comprehensive approach has become a quintessential theater festival on the global stage. It has not only served as a platform for theater performances from around the world but has also provided opportunities for the amalgamation of various traditional performing art forms. Additionally, it has facilitated knowledge-sharing and idea-exchange among individuals from dramatic arts and other creative fields,” said Chittaranjan Tripathi, director of the National School of Drama.

Notably, this year Bharat Rang Mahotsav 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 Theater Festival series by staging some of its most popular plays on various platforms across the country. The company will also present its production in places like Colombo, Kathmandu, Bengaluru and Goa during the festival.

from the drama Bidesia
Photo Credit: Courtesy: NSD

The slogan of Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2025 ‘One Expression, Highest Creation’ echoes the spirit of unity in creative expression and the spirit of unity of all. Renowned actor and NSD alumnus Rajpal Yadav has been named the Rang Doot (festival ambassador) for this year. “After graduating as a student in 1997, returning to NSD as the Coloradout for Bharangam 2025, feels like life is complete. As I celebrate 25 years in cinema, I am deeply inspired to be a part of this incredible gathering. Rajpal shared, “It is really admirable to achieve a high level of artistry here, often with limited resources, in stark contrast to the world of cinema.”

Running over a period of 20 days, this ‘Maha Kumbh of Theatre’ will include over 200 unique productions from nine different countries. The international theater groups participating in the said festival are from Russia, Italy, Germany, Norway, Czech Republic, Nepal, Taiwan, Spain and Sri Lanka. The inaugural ceremony of Bharat Rang Mahotsav will be held on January 28 at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi, with a musical evening titled Rang Sangeet by NSD Repertory Company. During the programme, NSD artistes will perform songs composed by various music directors of the NSD Repertory since its inception. “This year the plays, 23 of which are by women directors, are across various categories, including classical, folk, tribal, contemporary, verbal, non-verbal, realistic, musical and for children. Additionally, the theater also resonates with various underprivileged communities, including Santhal tribes, sex workers, transgender persons and senior citizens,” Chittaranjan pointed out.

Poster of Bharat Rang Mahotsav – 2025 released. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Spectacular performances of folk and traditional forms from across India will entertain audiences outside various venue venues; Director-Audience Dialogues, Seminars and Masterclasses will explore various aspects of theater in the form of associated programmes, creating inspiring conversations and insights. Besides this, there will be book releases and discussions on literature at ‘Shruti’, a dedicated program on literary arts. Additionally, attendees can immerse themselves in the vibrant Rang Haat, and explore the diverse offerings in the Food Bazaar, giving the feeling of theater that will truly leave them spellbound.

After securing the certificate from the World Book of Records, London for ‘Largest number of artistic performances on a common theme’ with the Jan Bharat Rang project of 2024, NSD has launched ‘Vishwa Jan Rang’, which will showcase There is a virtual performance of short plays by NRIs across seven continents. , and by the youth of India. The stupendous success of the Mahotsav in terms of its scale and wide reach, along with this, has boosted the confidence of NSD officials in securing a place for the Mahotsav in the Guinness World Records for the Largest Theater Festival (Plays) this year.

BRM 2025 will also include a parallel student-led festival, Advitiya 2025. Their festival includes street theatre, folk bands, open stage, talks and more, which is completely curated and conducted by the current batch of first, second and third year students. “In the coming years, we aim to further expand the scope of this festival and expand it to other continents,” Chittaranjan said.