Raipur : The 25th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the world’s largest theatre festival organised by the National School of Drama, continued to witness strong audience turnout on its 10th day, underlining its growing cultural impact across India. Celebrating 25 years, the festival is being held simultaneously in 19 cities, including Raipur, and has already staged over 130 productions ranging from full-length plays to short dramas and street performances.
Day 10 of the festival offered audiences a rich mix of themes and storytelling traditions. In Delhi, intense productions such as Badzat and Daddy drew attention for their emotional depth, while the Kashmiri folk play Aka Nandan impressed viewers with its traditional narrative style. International productions also featured prominently, with Poland’s Umadevi Observes Wanda Dynowska and Russia’s A Very Simple Story bringing global theatre perspectives to Indian audiences, reinforcing BRM’s international stature.
A standout element of the festival has been Advitya, an initiative led by NSD students, where young performers used street theatre to engage with pressing social issues. Plays like Kuch Unsunne highlighted child abuse, Baby Shark Do Do Do Do explored parenting challenges, while other performances focused on the realities of prison life. These acts reflected both artistic innovation and strong social consciousness among emerging theatre artists. The day also included screenings of short films from FTII, adding a cinematic dimension to the festival experience.
One of the defining features of Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2026 is its multi-city format. Along with Delhi, performances are being staged in Raipur, offering Chhattisgarh’s audiences access to world-class theatre. The festival is also active in cities such as Bengaluru, Patna, Kolkata, and Pune, creating a nationwide cultural network and fostering exchanges between regional and international theatre traditions.
Running for 25 days from January 27 to February 20, 2026, the silver jubilee edition of BRM features theatre groups from nine countries and across India. More than 277 plays are scheduled to be performed in 228 languages, including several regional dialects rarely seen on major stages, making this edition one of the most diverse and inclusive celebrations of theatre in the world.
