NSD’s Bharangam 2025 in Bengaluru is showcasing years of theatre legacy and global performances
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The festival, which will conclude on February 8, has performers from across India, besides Sri Lanka and Russia
Published – February 06, 2025 09:00 am IST – Bengaluru
Organised by the National School of Drama (NSD), this year marks NSD’s 25th year hosting Bharangam, which is happening across several cities in India and abroad.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
“I had no idea Bengaluru and Karnataka had so many theatre troupes. I got to meet people from close to 30 different theatre troupes due to the exhibition put up here. My classmates and I were surprised to see that there are so many teams that have been around for more than 50 years. It was a treat to watch folk artistes perform Krishna Parijatha,” said 20-year-old Ananya K., a theatre student from a popular college in the city at theatre festival Bhrangam, 2025.
Bharangam or BRM — short for Bharat Rang Mahotsav – International Theatre Festival of India, is one among the most anticipated events for theatre communities across the country. Organised by the National School of Drama (NSD), this year marks NSD’s 25th year hosting Bharangam, which is happening across several cities in India and abroad. Kicked off on January 28, the festival is on till February 16, across 13 cities in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka featuring 123 productions by 110 Indian groups, and 10 foreign groups, in 13 different languages.
A scene from the play Mayari Mai Kahan Se Hu directed by Ajay Kumar.
| Photo Credit:
SUDHAKARA JAIN
In Bengaluru, the event started on February 1 in collaboration with Karnataka Nataka Academy and the Kannada and Culture Department, Government of Karnataka. It will go on till February 8 at Kalagrama, at Mallatahalli. The Bengaluru version of the festival is hosting about 1,500 artistes and has seen a footfall of close to 5,000 people on most of the days of the festival.
The festival venue in Bengaluru is marked by an infectious enthusiasm. Likith Sharma, a visitor at the festival, said, “I never realised Bengaluru and Karnataka had such a vast theatre community… Also I had never watched a play in a different language or by a foreign group. Through this festival I got to watch The Marriage of Balzaimnov, a Russian play, and I can not wait to watch the play from Sri Lanka.“
BRM 2025 features international theatre groups participating hailing from Russia, Italy, Germany, Norway, Czech Republic, Nepal, Taiwan, Spain, and Sri Lanka. In the Bengaluru edition, the festival is featuring eight plays from across the country, besides Sri Lanka and Russia.
In a release, Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director, National School of Drama 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.” He said they aim to broaden the scope of this festival further, and extend it to other continents.
A full circle
Speaking to The Hindu, Meeta Mishra, senior theatre person and coordinator, NSD, said that 25 years of Bharangam feels like a full circle. “The festival has happened every year since its inception, except for one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many years ago, NSD’s current director Chittaranjan Tripathy had directed a play called Taj Mahal Ka Tender, which became quite popular, and is still running. This year the same play with a new set of actors is being presented at the festival, after 25 years. This feels complete now.” What stands out in this year’s festival is that there are plays by close to 23 women directors, she added.
“After almost two decades the festival is being hosted at Bengaluru. Shashidar Adapa who is a well know production designer from Bengaluru, has transformed the whole look of Kalagrama with the decor, set and exhibitions which should not be missed,” Mishra added.
The festival is also focusing on educating young theatre practitioners.
| Photo Credit:
SUDHAKARA JAIN
Cultural heritage
Nagaraj Murthy, Chairman, Karnataka Nataka Academy, said that hosting the festival has been an honour for the Academy, and an opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Bengaluru and Karnataka. “Every day we have managed to showcase the folk forms of Karnataka. Radha Nata, a form under Doddata, was showcased recently. We also had Yakshagana and Krishna Parijata, another form of folk theatre. We had artistes who presented the company style theatre form,” he said.
Murthy added that the festival is not just focusing on presenting productions but also making it more educative for young theatre practitioners, “Every day we are hosting poets from across the state who come and present their work and have a discussion with the audience through Kavi Goshti. We also have Janapada artistes conducting workshops for children and seminars by theatre scholars for theatre artistes. Book stalls by well-known publishers, and exhibitions by 45 theatre troupes from across Karnataka and majorly from Bengaluru who are showcasing their work through these exhibitions. Every evening, we have theatre troupes volunteering to present Ranagageete (theatre songs), which is a new experience for theatre makers coming from other states. We are also honouring teams that have been in the community for more than 50 years like Samudaya, Spandana, Benaka, Kalagangotri and more, which many young artistes need to know about. These teams have contributed a lot to Kannada theatre over the years.”
One of the performnces from Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
| Photo Credit:
SUDHAKARA JAIN
Murthy said that what stands out in this festival is that thousands of artists are participating, and many are working through day and night without seeking payments. “When we went to the Chief Minister with the idea of a Ranga Parishe or an exhibition, he was thrilled with the idea and immediately gave us a nod to go ahead. While NSD is taking care of logistics and accommodation, the Kannada and Culture Department has willingly offered to incur majority of the expenses, which is close to a crore. From equipment to print material everything has been provided by the department. However, it is the ethics and commitment to theatre that troupes from across the state have. Many artistes are volunteering and contributing to the festival without a fee. Even the 45 exhibitions put up by the troupes has been at their own expense,” he explained.
From the Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
| Photo Credit:
SUDHAKARA JAIN
For theatre students
Veena Sharma, Centre Director, NSD, Bengaluru, said that his has been a great exchange programme for the students. “The NSD Bengaluru students got to interact with the students from a drama school from Russia. Both the students presented their work to each other, and the Russian students were thrilled to know that Indian theatre is beyond just the Natya Shastra. Our students got an opportunity to discuss the Russian’s style of theatre and how they work majorly on body movements,” she said.
Sharma added that apart from the exchanges, all the students from NSD Bengaluru are actively participating in the festival. “The students are performing Jasma Odan, a play directed by B. Jayashree on February 8, they rehease through the first half of the day, and during the second half they are actively participating in the events and also helping with management of the festival,” she added.
The schedule for the Bengaluru edition of the festival going on at the Mallatahalli campus of NSD is available at https://brm.nsd.gov.in/bengaluru-schedule/
Published – February 06, 2025 09:00 am IST
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