New Delhi: The curtain has fallen on the National School of Drama’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2025, which ran from January 28 to February 16. Celebrating its 25th anniversary since its inception in 1999, Bharangam has evolved into the world’s largest theatre festival, drawing an impressive footfall of nearly one lakh attendees. Beyond stage performances, a range of enriching Parallel Events captivated audiences, including the student-led fiesta ‘Advitiya,’ the Theatre Appreciation Course, Vishwa Jan Rang, and various Allied Events. Themed ‘One Expression, Supreme Creation,’ BRM 2025 embraced diversity and inclusivity with performances from across the globe. A special segment, ‘Lok Rangam,’ was also introduced in collaboration with HUDCO, highlighting India’s rich folk traditions.

The grand Closing Ceremony was graced by Hon’ble Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, who spoke about India’s cultural diversity and NSD’s pivotal role in preserving theatre arts. He emphasized the role of citizens in shaping a progressive society. The Guest of Honor, Ms. Ranjana Chopra, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture, and Distinguished Guest, Ms. Uma Nanduri, IFS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, also attended the event. BRM 2025 Festival Ambassador, the acclaimed actor Shri Rajpal Yadav, brought star power to the evening. Padma Awardee and former NSD director, Prof. Ram Gopal Bajaj, joined virtually. The session was chaired by Prof. Bharat Gupt, Vice Chairman, NSD Society.

The welcome address was delivered by NSD Director Shri Chittaranjan Tripathy, who highlighted the festival’s global reach, with 2,100 plays performed from 57 countries. For the first time, BRM extended its presence to an international audience. Shri Santanu Bose, Associate Professor at NSD, gave a Vote of Thanks, while TV anchor Shrivardhan Trivedi hosted the ceremony.

A significant highlight was the release of a special Postal Stamp commemorating 50 years of NSD’s institutional autonomy. Col. Akhilesh Kumar Pandey presented the first album of the stamp to Hon’ble Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena for the official launch.

The festival concluded with a remarkable performance by The Chorus Repertory Theatre, which staged ‘Kanupriya,’ a poetic narrative by Dharamvir Bharti. Directed by the legendary Ratan Thiyam, this Manipuri-language play delved into Radha’s eternal bond with Krishna, blending modern and classical Sanskrit influences. It was showcased at Kamani Auditorium. Another captivating performance of the evening was the stand-up comedy act ‘Fly On The Wall’ by Aseem Bajaj, produced by Leena Yadav, which had audiences in fits of laughter.

The Allied Events segment featured the play ‘Dharti ki Pukar,’ directed by Yuddveer Bakolia, starring senior citizen artists enrolled in NSD’s short course. The play tackled urgent issues of global warming and climate change.

Advitiya – Day 20: The talk show featured renowned lyricist, singer, and actor Swanand Kirkire, an NSD alumnus, in conversation with fellow alumnus Ajay Kumar. The engaging discussion titled ‘Swanand: Ek Sapna’ was a highlight of the festival.

Festival Ambassador Rajpal Yadav also participated in a discussion with director Daulat Vaid, both NSD alumni of the 1997 batch. Yadav later served as the chief guest for the certificate-distribution ceremony, where participants of ‘Advitiya’ were felicitated for their contributions to the street play segment.

In the literary section, the event ‘Shruti’ featured the launch and discussion of ‘Shanno Khurana: Opera Praneta’ by Sushmita Jha. The session, moderated by theatre critic Diwan Singh Bajeli, was further enriched by the presence of the legendary vocalist and composer Shanno Khurana.

Festival Highlights: BRM 2025 received overwhelming applause for its diverse lineup of performances spanning classical drama, folk, contemporary, historical, and realist genres.

The festival expanded to multiple cities, featuring:

• Goa: 4 plays
• Bengaluru: 8 plays
• Ranchi: 7 plays
• Gorakhpur: 5 plays
• Khairagarh: 6 plays
• Kathmandu: 6 plays
• Bhopal: 5 plays
• Colombo: 4 plays
• Bathinda: 5 plays
• Jaipur: 5 plays
• Ahmedabad & Agartala: 5 plays each
• Delhi: 73 shows, making it the festival’s epicenter.

This amounted to nearly 150 plays. Additional entries for Vishwa Jan Rang were invited, building on last year’s record-breaking Jan Bharat Rang, which saw over 1,500 entries. These plays explored themes from the Natya Shastra and Pancham Ved, aligning with India’s vision for inclusivity, sustainable progress, and global harmony.

Inclusivity was a key focus, with special performances featuring disenfranchised groups such as indigenous communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, children, senior citizens, and sex workers. Students from NSD’s Three-Month Certificate Courses also presented a variety of short plays throughout the Delhi schedule. In total, BRM 2025 showcased over 2,000 plays.

Digital Initiatives: The NSD Library Portal was launched by Hon. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, making the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) accessible to all. Additionally, ‘Rang Abhilekh,’ a digital archive preserving 25 iconic plays by legendary theatre directors, was introduced.

Cultural Segments: ‘Ambience Performances,’ a series of impromptu folk dance showcases, took place at various informal locations. A total of 39 performances represented diverse traditions, including:

• Kalbelia (Rajasthan)
• Chhau (Odisha)
• Cholia Nritya (Uttarakhand)
• Bihu (Assam)
• Kathputhli Naach (Rajasthan)
• Sambhalpuri Naach (Odisha)
• Bhangra (Punjab)

In ‘Advitiya,’ 37 street plays were staged by college and independent theatre groups from across India. Additionally, 40 open-stage performances featured stand-up comedy, solo acts, dance, and poetry recitation. The One-Act Competition saw 15 teams compete, with prize money of INR 40,000, INR 20,000, and INR 10,000 awarded to the top three winners. The segment also included 10 film screenings, 10 talk shows with theatre personalities, and 7 folk band performances.

‘Lok Rangam’ featured 10 folk performances celebrating India’s cultural diversity. ‘Rang Haat’ emerged as a major attraction, drawing visitors to shop for handicrafts, sample regional cuisines, and enjoy traditional games.

As BRM 2025 came to a close, it left an indelible mark on the theatre landscape, reinforcing its legacy as a melting pot of artistic expression and cultural exchange.