Besides increasing the number of shows, the 17th Bharat Rang Mahotsav will have participation from 12 nations including the US and the UK, Neeti Nigam reports
This is the season when Delhi buzzes with cultural festivals and exhibitions. From literary festivals to art fairs, one get the best of creative expressions. With theme “Breaking borders”, National School of Drama’s annual theatre festival Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) will kick off from February 1 to 18. This year’s festival will represent work of 125 groups (last year it was 71).
Around 12 foreign countries including European nations, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and neighbouring China, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri lanka will present their work on the international platform. There will be 150 performances and 100s of ambience ones. Also a lot of rural groups are participating. Prof Waman Kendre, director, National School of Drama, says, “We are constantly trying to promote the rich tribal culture and that is why, the finale is Aadirangam, an ensemble of eight tribal group performers.”
According to Kendre, the reason to conceptualise the theme “Breaking borders” is to move away from the barriers of country or creed, modern or traditional theatre, rural or city theatre and create a global platform of quality work. There will be a world theatre forum on this topic where theatre luminaries across the world will come together to interact with the audience.
To attract youth, Delhi University colleges and Jawaharlal Nehru University’s theatre troupes and rock bands will perform. In total, there were 500 Indian and 65 foreign entries. Probably, due to this filter system, Pakistani plays have failed to pass the selection process. The festival will pay tribute to Shambhu Mitra (1915-1997) and Begum Akhtar (1914-1974) for their birth centenary, and Veenapani Chawla (1947-2014) who passed away recently. This will include performance, exhibition and lecture on Shambhu Mitra, Jamal-e-Begum Akhtar, enacted by prof Vidushi Rita Ganguly, The Tenth Head directed by Veenapani Chawla and presented by Adishakti laboratory for Theatre Art Research, Pondicherry.
NSD will set up a theatre bazaar for public where they can buy various props used in plays. There will also be literary interactions with Krishna Sobti, dance by Pandit Birju Maharaj, company theatre music classes by B Jayashree and visual art demonstrations by noted photographer Raghu Rai. The theatre lovers can book tickets online on the National School of Drama’s website.