Ahmedabad Chapter of NSD’s 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav Concludes with ‘Sita No Vesh’

Ahmedabad: The three-day Ahmedabad chapter of the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) 2026, world’s largest international theatre festival, organised by the National School of Drama in collaboration with Gujarat University, concluded today in a ceremony joined by leading artists and eminent personalities at the Upasana Auditorium, Gujarat University campus. The three-day theatre festival that began on 14 February brought on stage some of the acclaimed theatrical productions.

The concluding ceremony was graced by Kavi Tushar Shukla, a Padma Shri awardee renowned poet and writer, as the Chief Guest and Shri Bhagyesh Jha, renowned writer and Chairman of the Gujarat Sahitya Academy, as the Special Guest.

The ceremony was chaired by Shri Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director, NSD. The Welcome Address was delivered by Dr. Viraj Amar, Director of the Upasana School of Performing Arts, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, while the Vote of Thanks was proposed by Dr. Chavan Pramod R., who was also the Coordnator for BRM 2026 in Ahmedabad.

The concluding day of the BRM 2026 Ahmedabad chapter featured Sita No Vesh (inspired by Uttararamacharita), a powerful Gujarati production that brought ancient literature to life with contemporary sensitivity. Written by Mahakavi Bhavabhuti and directed by Dr. Chavan Pramod R., the play was staged by the Upasana School of Performing Arts, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, offering a soulful and compelling finale to the city’s line-up.

The concluding play ‘Sita No Vesh’ reinterprets the Ramayana through a contemporary lens, questioning a woman’s identity, rights, and societal role, while emphasising that meaningful inquiry must strengthen a cultured, responsible and ethically grounded society.

The other plays featured during the festival were Desert Bloom – A Musical Tale, written and directed by Mahadev Singh Lakhawat, and Avalanche, written by Tuncer Cücenoğlu, dramatically adapted by Gandharv Dewan, Shardul Bhardwaj, and Rajesh Nirmal, directed by Gandharv Dewan, and presented in Hindi by The Gathered from Mumbai.

The 25th edition of 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.