National School of Drama has set the stage for nights full of entertainment and cultural celebrations by announcing their flagship festival, Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2025 (BRM), popularly called ‘Bharangam’.
As the festival completes 25 years, it is set to captivate audiences with its theme, One Expression, Supreme Creation. The idea is to showcase global and Indian theatrical excellence. Spanning 20 days from January 28 to February 16, BRM will feature 200 productions from nine countries, including Russia, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Taiwan, alongside diverse Indian performances. Expanding its footprint, the festival will also be celebrated internationally in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Kathmandu, Nepal, making it a global theatrical extravaganza.
Noted actor and NSD alumnus Rajpal Yadav is named as the ‘Rang Doot’ (Festival Ambassador) of this year. "In continuation of NSD's legacy, we are organising the Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2025 in two international locations this time,” said Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director of the National School of Drama. The aim is to broaden the scope of the festival, and extend it to other continents going forward.
"Bharat Rang Mahotsav has become a quintessential theatre festival on the global stage with its expansive approach,” explained Tripathy. “It has not only served as a platform for theatre performances from around the world but has also offered opportunities for the amalgamation of various traditional performing art forms.”
NSD has secured World of Book Records - London’s certificate for ‘Largest number of Artistic Performances on a Common Theme’ with 2024’s Jan Bharat Rang project and hence has initiated ‘Vishwa Jan Rang’, a virtual performance of short plays by NRIs across seven countries worldwide. This year, they are hoping to secure the Guinness World Record for Largest Theatre Festival Plays.
The 25th anniversary of Bharangam coincides with the 60th anniversary of the National School of Drama Repertory Company, which adds more charm and thrill to the festival.
BRM 2025 will also host a student-led initiative, Advitiya 2025, which includes street theatre, folk bands, open stage, talk and more with participants across different disciplines studying at different universities. This year's Bharngam will also include plays from several disenfranchised communities including Santhal Tribes marking the 150th anniversary of Birsa Munda as well as sex workers and transgenders- making it an amalgamation of different communities and cultures this year.
Besides, it will also serve as a platform for inclusive storytelling and artistic exchange. For theatre enthusiasts, BRM 2025 promises to be an unmissable 20-day journey into the diverse and vibrant world of performing arts.