NSD’s ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2025’ to feature many firsts

The ‘National School of Drama’ (NSD) will organise its flagship ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’ (BRM), ‘International Theatre Festival of India’ (completion of 25 years). Fondly called ‘Bharangam’, BRM is the world’s largest theatre festival and is set to take place from January 28 to February 16, 2025, across 13 cities in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Through this pioneering effort, NSD is expanding the festival’s outreach with enhanced international engagement, building on last year’s theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Vande Bharangam’.

‘One Expression, Supreme Creation’. This slogan for BRM 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.

Speaking on the occasion, Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director of NSD, said: “‘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.”

BRM 2025, which spans 20 days, will feature more than 200 unique productions from nine different countries, showcased across 13 locations in India and abroad. International theatre groups participating in the said festival hailing from Russia, Italy, Germany, Norway, Czech Republic, Nepal, Taiwan, Spain and Sri Lanka.

For the first time, the institution is expanding the festival beyond India, with satellite chapters scheduled in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The opening ceremony of ‘BRM 2025’ will be held on January 28 at 3 pm at the Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi, featuring a musical evening titled ‘Rang Sangeet’ by the NSD ‘Repertory Company’. During the event, NSD artists will perform songs composed by various Music Directors of the NSD Repertory since its inception.

The opening ceremony of ‘BRM 2025’ will be held on January 28 at 3 pm at the Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi, featuring a musical evening titled ‘Rang Sangeet’ by the NSD ‘Repertory Company’. During the event, NSD artists will perform songs composed by various music directors of the ‘NSD Repertory’ since its inception.

Notably, ‘BRM 2025’ coincides with the 65th anniversary of NSD 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.

‘BRM 2025’ will also feature a parallel student-led fiesta, ‘Advitiya 2025’. ‘Advitiya’ has existed almost as long as BRM itself, giving NSDians an opportunity to connect with students from across disciplines, studying at other universities and practicing performing arts. 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 years.