Confluence of Traditions and Global Voices at BRM 2026 on Day 8 with Shree Devi Mahatme, Dr. King’s Last Night Coupled with Performance by Malini Awasthi
New Delhi: The 25th-year celebration of NSD’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) 2026, the world’s largest international theatre festival, reached its Day 8 on 03 February 2026 with a wonderful line-up of world-class Indian folk performances and international theatrical productions, combined with a host of other cultural activities including band performances, street plays, film screenings, and a book launch.
One of the major highlights of the day was “Shree Devi Mahatme”, a traditional Yakshagana presentation written by Shri Nidhi Shetty (Mangalore) and directed by Bhuvan Manipal. Presented by Ambabhavani Kala Arts, Udupi, Karnataka, the production was performed in Tulu, bringing the rich performative heritage of coastal Karnataka to the capital.
Adding an international dimension was “Dr. King’s Last Night (I Have a Dream)”, written by Katori Hall and directed by Buddhika Damayantha. Presented by the Red Wings Theatre Group from Sri Lanka, the play was performed in Sinhala, offering a poignant and powerful theatrical reflection rooted in global civil rights history.
The festival also featured “Jab Jago Tab Savera”, a devised Hindi play by NSD TIE, Sunday Club, led by Rajeshwari Nandi and assisted by Amaresh Kumar. The production resonated strongly with audiences through its contemporary narrative and social relevance.
In addition to this, college student theatre groups—Deshbandhu Dramatics Society, the students’ group from Delhi Technological University, and Delhi College of Arts’ group Prativimb—sensitised audiences to issues such as toxic masculinity, civic sense, and civic disengagement through their street performances.
Beyond theatre, the festival celebrated music and performance through Advitiya, presented by the NSD Students’ Union, featuring “Sonchiraiya”, a vibrant band performance by renowned folk singer Malini Awasthi, adding a musical crescendo to the festival’s Delhi chapter.
Another highlight of the day was the book launch of Dr Malini Awasthi’s Chandan Kiwad as part of the theatre literature section of the festival followed by a discussion with Ms. Vani Tripathi ‘Tikku’.
Another engaging segment of the day was the screening of the Gujarati film ‘Kundaalu’, held at Chahumukh, followed by an online post-screening discussion with the film’s producers, Neena Arora and Suchitra Parikh.
Along with NSD Delhi, the main organiser of BRM 2026, the international theatre festival has extended its cultural footprint across India, with performances held simultaneously in Nagaon, Ranchi, Raipur, Gangtok, Paradeep, Varanasi, Bengaluru, Patna, Itanagar, Kolkata, Imphal, Sakhalin and Dimapur, reinforcing its mission to decentralise theatre and make world-class performances accessible across regions. The festival is being celebrated in 41 places across all states
Organised by the National School of Drama, Bharat Rang Mahotsav continues to stand as a celebration of theatrical excellence, cultural diversity, and artistic dialogue—cementing India’s position as a global epicentre for theatre.
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.