CG: International Theatre Festival: Rajpal Yadav is ‘Rangdoot’

RAIPUR,INDIA: The International Theatre Festival of India, Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), is set to take place from 4th to 9th February 2025 at Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh. Organized by the National School of Drama (NSD) in collaboration with Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya. The festival, popularly known as ‘Bharangam,’ is the largest theatre festival in the world.

The event will be inaugurated on February 4th at 6:00 PM at Dr. Narendra Dev Verma Auditorium with the play 'Nar Nari Urf Thanku Baba Lochandas'. The theme for this year, "Ek Abhivyakti, Sarvottam Srujan", emphasizes unity in creative expression.

Eminent actor and NSD alumnus Rajpal Yadav has been named the ‘Rangdoot’ (Festival Ambassador) for the festival. Bharangam 2025 will also introduce theatre performances featuring diverse communities, including sex workers, transgenders, senior citizens, and children.

NSD Director Chittaranjan Tripathi highlighted that BRM has grown into a globally recognized theatre festival, bringing together traditional and contemporary performing arts. Vice Chairman of NSD, Professor Bharat Gupta, noted that the festival also celebrates the 65th anniversary of NSD and the 60th anniversary of NSD Repertory Company, reinforcing the idea that theatre unites people across boundaries.

Rajpal Yadav expressed his joy at returning to NSD as Rangdoot, marking 25 years in cinema since his graduation in 1997.

Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2025 will run for 20 days from January 28th to February 16th, featuring over 200 unique productions from nine countries apart from India. The international participants include theatre groups from Russia, Italy, Germany, Norway, the Czech Republic, Nepal, Taiwan, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

The festival will be hosted at 11 locations across India, including Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bathinda, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Goa, Gorakhpur, Jaipur, Ranchi, and Delhi, apart from Khairagarh. Additionally, two international locations, Kathmandu and Colombo, will also host performances.