Venue: Kamani Auditorium, Shriram Centre and National School of Drama – Mandi House, Delhi
Date: 01 to 21 Feb 2020

Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020

Mankind has been travelling for a zillion years. In the initial days, it was the hunt for food or warmth. And now people travel for more. In addition to simple vacations, honeymoons, parties, or attending weddings, people now also travel for experiencing art, craft, or music first hand. One reason to travel to Delhi this time of the year could be the National School of Drama’s (NSD) annual theatre festival – Bharat Rang Mahotsav. This festival draws performers as well as audiences from far and wide. It made us travel back to Delhi.

After all, the 21^st Bharat Rang Mahotsav is a unique opportunity to watch several plays by renowned directors, actors, and theatre groups from India and overseas. Celebrity directors from Bollywood and eminent theatre personalities from abroad are also a part of this theatre extravaganza. Along with traditional and contemporary plays, the festival has included folk theatre and classical plays as well in their latest edition of this Theatre Festival.

Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020 schedule

Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020, popularly called “BRM” is on full swing at the National School of Drama campus. Bharat Rang Mahotsav’s 2020 schedule is actually very busy. There are multiple shows throughout the day and the last show begins at 8.30 in the evening. Consequently one can watch multiple plays in a single day. In addition to the plays, the days are filled with other theatre-related programs. There are interactive sessions with directors of the plays being performed at BRM, sessions with celebrated thespians and theatre, and other performance-based workshops.

Bharat Rang Mahotsav is however more than just theatre. This festival draws theatre artists and fans not only from far corners of our country but all across the globe. The sheer cultural diversity in the venues this time of the year has to be seen to be believed.

What really helps is the food court on the sprawling NSD lawns. We get nostalgic when we are at the food court here. Till some years back, the food court would be like an artist’s zone.  They would have charpoys and live bonfires to handle the chill. There would be a decorated tree or some other visual focal point at the centre.

The food court or Food Bazar now is way more matter-of-fact. The food court has various stalls for South Indian, Chinese, biryani, health food, Bengali sweets or Mishti, and other desserts. Tea, coffee, and packaged snacks are available at a small counter by NSD’s own canteen. We always look out for the paratha stall that serves home-style stuffed vegetarian parathas with raita and pickle. They only do business this time of the year.

One can also take a round of the Theatre Bazaar which is setup to engage the visitors. There are stalls selling hand-painted T-shirts, bags, crystal ware, handicraft, Warli paintings, and whatnot. We have become friends with the Tanjore artist who religiously puts up a stall every year. We seriously wonder what kind of business does he do but his love to engage with the theatre festival is extremely inspiring.

There are photograph displays as well on the lawns and the interesting frames for holding the pictures are a delight in themselves.

In addition to NSD, some of the plays are being staged in auditoriums surrounding the Mandi House area. Kamani Auditorium, Shriram Centre, and ope area in NSD are also venues for the theatre festival.

Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020 dates

The Bharat Rang Mahotsav theater festival is on between the 1st and 21st February 2020. This year they would stage more than 90 plays in English, Hindi, and Regional Indian Languages.

Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020 tickets

Online tickets are available at Bookmyshow. Physical tickets are available at the venue ticket counters just before show time. The ticket price ranges from Rs.100/- to Rs.400/-.

Pro-tip while attending Bharat Rang Mahotsav

First, the Bharat Rang Mahotsav theatre festival is in its 21^st edition this year. It has garnered enormous popularity over the years and is extremely sought after. Therefore it makes sense that you procure tickets before hand as chances of getting on spit tickets at the venue are slim.

Second, while the festival is about plays, it is a more immersive approach where one gets to experience theatre more and beyond a visual medium, rather a complete art. The food court, the beautiful displays and the crafts bazaar, all these ensure that it is a holistic experience. So if you are here to watch a play, do have some extra time on hand so that you can enjoy the decked up theatre festival venue.

Third, even if you’re watching the plays at Kamani and Shriram, NSD is just a stone’s throw away. So, do not miss visiting NSD.

Last, if you come half an hour before the play time and you can enjoy live folk dance and music performances outside the venues.

Winters in Delhi are on their way out, giving way to much pleasant and festive weather. If you have been sitting on the fence about trying out theatre, this is the time to cross over. Not only would you get to see great theatre, but also the festive mood at NSD, we bet, would lift your spirits.

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