Satire, reality and love in the spotlight at Bharat Rang Mahotsav’s pit-stop in Pune

The National School of Drama (NSD) conducted the Pune chapter of its ongoing Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) last week. In association with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the 25th edition of the fest kept theatre artistes and audience from the city engaged with three acclaimed plays by NSD artistes – Laila Majnun , Babuji , and Taj Mahal Ka Tender .

The Bharat Rang Mahotsav, running from January 27 to February 20, started at Bengaluru, before heading to Pune. Currently in Mumbai, the artistes will also travel to Andaman and Nicobar Islands before closing the 25th year celebration in Delhi.

The fest’s opening day, Feb 5, saw the play Laila Majnun , written by Ismile Chunara and directed by Ram Gopal Bajaj, being staged. Bajaj, a Padma Shri awardee and former director of NSD, got a standing ovation from the crowd.

Enriched by its lyrical dialogues and aesthetics, the play portrays love and the pain of separation. The classic love story also features women’s perspectives on relationships. Distinguished guests graced the opening ceremony, incding Dhiraj Singh (Vice Chancellor, FTII), Prateek Jain (Registrar, FTII) and Chittaranjan Tripathy (Director, NSD).

Tripathy said, “Bharat Rang Mahotsav has stood as a testament to India’s artistic depth and cultural diversity.

We celebrate not only theatre but the collective imagination of our society. FTII’s involvement is special as it reminds us that when institutions of art come together, the country’s cultural voice grows stronger.”

On Feb 6, families, students, senior citizens, and first-time theatre-goers filled the auditorium. Some came out of curiosity, others out of deep love for theatre, but everyone gathered to experience live storytelling at its most honest.

The play of the day was Babuji , directed by Rajesh Singh, Chief of Repertory Company at NSD, and the titular character in the show. While the play itself focused on the struggle of an artiste trying to live life on his own terms, the larger spirit of the night was about a connection between performers and audience, between tradition and modern life, and between storytelling and life experiences.

According to Singh, Babuji reflects everyday realities that we all have been through.

As the evening drew to a close, people walked out smiling, discussing scenes, humming tunes, and sharing thoughts.

Day 3 saw another packed house as Ajay Shukla’s celebrated satire, Taj Mahal Ka Tender , was reimagined with present-day bureaucracy at its centre by director Chittaranjan Tripathy, who is also the current NSD director. The humour and satire in Tripathy’s play struck a chord with audiences. For actor Ajay Kumar, who plays Shah Jahan in the play, the play carries a long history. “The idea of Taj Mahal Ka Tender goes back around 26 years, when we were looking for a strong script.

Ajay Shukla had worked in the government system, so he had first-hand experience of red-tape and bureaucracy. In his writing you see how files disappear, how budgets get inflated, how matters get stretched endlessly,” he shared.