Goa, 29 January 2025

The National School of Drama (NSD) kicked off the Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) in Goa with the acclaimed play ‘Naagmandal’, written by Girish Karnad, one of India’s most influential playwrights, at Kala Academy, Panaji, today, January 29th, 2025.

Chief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant was the chief guest at the Opening Ceremony. Inaugurating the international theatre festival, Dr Sawant said that he was more than delighted to have the NSD and the BRM 2025 in Goa. “I believe a deeper collaboration between Goa and NSD would be immensely beneficial for the State and its artists. I invite them to consider establishing an institute in Goa, offering Goans and others access to their invaluable expertise. This celebration of art, theater, and culture is truly inspiring," the Chief Minister said.  

"It's wonderful to see so many languages from across India given a platform and reaching such a wide audience. I hope, in the future, to see Konkani represented among the voices celebrated at this prestigious festival," he said.

The featured play ‘Naagmandal’ left a profound impact on the audience. Performed by Satvik Art Society, Chandigarh, and directed by Amit Sanouria & Sarver Ali, the play beautifully explored the intricacies of love, marriage and societal struggles.

Shri Suneel Anchipaka, Secretary of Art & Culture, Goa; and Shri Sagun R. Velip, Director of Art & Culture, Goa; were present at the Opening Ceremony. Prof. Bharat Gupt, Vice Chairman of the National School of Drama Society, presided over the event, while Shri Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director of the NSD, delivered the welcome address.

The four-day festival, organized in collaboration with the Directorate of Art & Culture, Goa, will feature four plays including ‘Naagmandal’, at Kala Academy till February 1.  

Fondly called ‘Bharangam’, BRM is the world’s largest theatre festival. BRM 2025 is being held under the theme 'Ek Rang, Shreshth Rang' (One Expression, Supreme Creation). Noted actor and NSD alumnus Shri Rajpal Yadav is the Rang Doot (Festival Ambassador) for this year. 

BRM 2025, which spans a period of 20 days, from January 28, 2025 to February 16, 2025, will feature more than 200 unique productions from nine different countries apart from India, showcased across 11 locations in India and two abroad, which are Kathmandu and Colombo. Alongside the festival’s epicenter in Delhi, the locations in India include Goa, Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bathinda, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Gorakhpur, Jaipur, Khairagarh and Ranchi. The international theatre groups participating in the festival are hailing from Russia, Italy, Germany, Norway, Czech Republic, Nepal, Taiwan, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

Notably, the Bharat Rang Mahotsav coincides with the 65th Anniversary of the NSD, and the 60th Anniversary of the NSD Repertory Company. 

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PIB Panaji | NM/RB/DR

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