Ranchi: The prestigious Bharatiya Natya Rang Mahotsav commenced in Ranchi on Monday, transforming the city into a vibrant hub of theatre and performing arts for the next 5 days. Hosted by the National School of Drama (NSD) in collaboration with the state department of tourism, arts, culture, sports and youth affairs, the festival is being held at Shaurya Auditorium, Ranchi.The Ranchi leg of the world’s largest international theatre festival opened with the play “Hum Bihar Mein Chunaav Ladh Rahe Hain”, written by Harishankar Parsai and directed by Vijay Kumar, an NSD alumnus who carved a distinct identity across theatre, television and films. The performance holds special significance as it marks the 1,010th staging of the play, making the opening evening a historic moment for theatre lovers.Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Kumar said, “Performing this play at Bharat Rang Mahotsav is an honour in itself. To open the Ranchi chapter with its 1,010th show makes it even more special. Theatre has always been my way of engaging with society, and Ranchi’s audience has a deep cultural sensibility.”Scheduled performances include “Bhoot (The Ghost)” on February 3, “Bilimaro” on Feb 4, “Malati Madhavam” on Feb 5, and “Nirmaan Se Nirvaan Tak” on Feb 6, each beginning at 6:30 pm, with productions from Mumbai, Kolkata, Varanasi and Lucknow.Bharatiya Natya Rang Mahotsav, organised annually by NSD, brings together the finest theatrical traditions from India and abroad, fostering cultural dialogue and artistic exchange. With Ranchi hosting this celebrated platform, local artistes and audiences alike are witnessing a rare confluence of diverse narratives, languages and stagecraft, reaffirming the city’s growing presence on India’s cultural map.
