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If you’ve ever accidentally spent an entire day around Mandi House in February, you already know what the Bharat Rang Mahotsav feels like. Darting between auditoriums, clutching paper tickets, debating a play they just watched over chai – it’s when the Delhi theatre neighbourhood really comes alive. And it’s that time of the year again – the National School of Drama’s (NSD) flagship festival returns on January 27.
It’s India’s largest theatre festival, so the NSD is most definitely lining up performances beyond the capital, though Delhi’s got the lion’s share (no surprises there). You can catch plays at select locations in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata. But what’s interesting is that this year, the fest marks a new milestone – for the first time, a couple of productions are heading to Sri Lanka, marking its first international outing ever.
Over the years, Bharat Rang Mahotsav has hosted everything from large-scale repertory productions and reinterpretations of classics to stripped-back experimental work, late-night performances and international collaborations. It’s also been a space where regional theatre travels. Audiences have been able to discover work in languages they don’t speak, and theatre-makers have found new audiences far from home.
So when and where can you actually watch something?
The festival runs from January 27 to February 20, with multiple plays often scheduled on the same day. In Delhi, most venues sit within walking distance of each other in the Mandi House area, which means it’s entirely possible (and encouraged) to watch more than one show a day.
Some of the most popular Delhi venues include the Sri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, Kamani Auditorium, and the Akshara Theatre.
What kind of theatre can you expect?
The short answer: a bit of everything. The longer answer: theatre that spans centuries, styles and sensibilities. Past editions have moved between historical epics and intimate contemporary stories, socially rooted narratives and playful formal experiments. Stories can also cover a wide range, going from political histories and folk traditions to modern relationships, with several productions centering marginalised communities and transgender narratives too.
The 25th edition leans into a global outlook with its theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Vande Bharangam’: the idea that the world is one family. Expect contemporary Indian plays, classics, micro-dramas and experimental work, alongside featured performances like Alive (contemporary), Rangabhumi by Goutam Halder, and works by Bhanu Sanjoy Banerjee (Nandini Ebong) and Randhir Kumar (Ghashiram Kotwal).
And then there’s the stuff around the plays: workshops, exhibitions, post-show conversations, and the very real possibility of sharing a foyer with some of the most recognisable names in Indian theatre and performance art.
What languages are the plays in?
Pretty much all of them. Bharat Rang Mahotsav has long been known for its linguistic range, so you’ll find plays in Indian languages, regional dialects, and, of course, English productions. If you’re chasing a play in a specific language, it’s worth checking the listings in advance and planning your visit accordingly.