Posted On:
15 FEB 2026 2:40PM by PIB Kolkata
Kolkata; February 15, 2026
The Santiniketan chapter of the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) 2026 - the world’s largest international theatre festival organised by the National School of DramaNSD), Ministry of Culture, Government of India — features the presentation of Natir Puja at the historic Uttarayan Complex.
The occasion was graced by Dr. Probir Kumar Ghosh, Visva-Bharati University(VBU), Professor Pabitra Sarkar, celebrated literary exponent and academician, Mr. Ashis Kumar Giri, Director, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Ms. Tapati Chowdhurie, Art Critic, The Statesman, Ms. Swati Bhattacharjee, Journalist, Anandabazar Patrika, Mr. Amal Mukhopadhyay, Convenor, SPIC MACAY and Mr. Souti Chakraborty, Centre Director, National School of Drama, Sikkim.
Presented in collaboration with Sangeet Bhavana, VBU, the production showcased Rabindranath Tagore’s celebrated dance-drama, performed by the Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan group and directed by Amartya Mukhopadhyay. The performance will be staged in Bengali.
Mr. Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director, NSD conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the organising team from VBU and said: “Santiniketan has always held a special place in the world of art, culture and literature. As we celebrate the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav with the guiding spirit of Samvad Sanskritiyon Ka, we honour the values that Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur shared with the world through his work. Thank you all for supporting this effort.”
The play Natir Puja portrays the story of Srimati, a court dancer who defies royal oppression to offer forbidden Buddhist worship. Through music and movement, the play highlights devotion, moral courage and the triumph of spiritual truth over authoritarian power.
Natir Puja, one of Tagore’s most cherished works, remains an integral part of Santiniketan’s artistic tradition. Its staging during BRM 2026 underscores the festival’s commitment to presenting India’s diverse and rich theatrical heritage on a national platform.
The 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, organised by the National School of Drama (NSD), is the world’s largest international theatre festival. The 25th edition, BRM 2026, spans 25 days from 27 January to 20 February 2026, showcasing over 277 productions across 228 Indian and international languages, including several underrepresented tongues. The festival brings together national, international and regional productions, with participation from 9 countries and theatre groups from every state and union territory.
Celebrating India’s theatrical diversity, BRM 2026 includes performances by children’s groups, tribal communities, and artists from marginalised sections, reaffirming NSD’s commitment to inclusivity and the universalisation of theatre.
NSD has been continuously working towards the spread and democratisation of theatre. Recently, it launched Rang Akash, internet radio to promote theatre along with launching its OTT platform Natyam to avail some of its prized productions to theatre lovers across the nation.
BRM 2026 continues to bring together theatre groups and artists from across India and abroad, fostering cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration.
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