The 19th edition of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav attempts to initiate a dialogue on Whose Theatre is it Anyway. By Team Viva
Whom exactly does theatre belong toIJ The actors, the directors, the audience or the playwrightsIJ The latest edition of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the annual drama festival organised by the National School of Drama, attempts to initiate a dialogue on Whose Theatre is it Anyway.
“Theatre, in fact, belongs to all and we have to make it accessible to all. It’s to go in tandem with this philosophy that the plays are traveling to other cities as well. Theatre has to reach everywhere. This year the festival highlights and focuses on the essential thought that whose theatre is it anyway,” NSD director Waman Kendre said. The festival is all set to journey to Kurukshetra, Agartala, Patna, Pune and Hyderabad too in a bid to widen its reach.
“The question is what essentially theatre is; as it’s not a commodity that we can purchase. It remains in the mind of the viewers the moments they watch plays. Theatre should belong to all. This time we will have scholars from Austria, France, Germany, Russia, Nepal and Israel to lead discussions in this regard,” said Assistant Professor Santanu Bose.
When asked on why there are no plays from Paksitan and China this year Professor Suresh Bhardwaj said, “There was no play from China, but there was from Pakistan. The play couldn’t make to the final list. Plays made in Hindi and those from Bengal dominate the festival this year. The selection is based solely on quality.”
Renowned art director Jayant Deshmukh will convert NSD campus into a sprawling Maharaja’s Mahal of 1920’s, with colonnades, domes and arches for the latest edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav. There will also be a theatre bazaar with around 50 kiosks.
“It’s also one among the largest festivals in the world. The highlight of this year’s festival is that it will reflect the various facets of Indian theatre; classical, modern and folk. Importance is also given for plays with focus on the Indian narratives like Marsiya, a poem written in the memory of revolutionary leader Hussain Ibn Ali, Kirtan, song on lord Krishna and Chakiyar Koothu, a traditional performing art from Kerala, to mention a few,” the director said.
The fest, begins on February 1 and concludes on 21, features 94 performances from 12 countries and 16 Indian states. It will travel to Kurukshetra from February 3 to 8, Agartala 5 to 10, Patna 7 to 12, Pune 9 to 14 and Hyderabad 11 to 16.