8-Aug-2022: National School of Drama organises ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2022’ in Mumbai

National School of Drama under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is organizing "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2022 (Azadi Segment)" to pay tributes to our freedom fighters. As part of the 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2022 (Azadi Segment), 30 plays will be showcased in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Bengaluru and Mumbai from 16th July to 14th August, 2022.

In Mumbai, the Bharat Rang Mahotsav programmes will be held from 9 to 13 August 2022, jointly organised by Ministry of Cultural Affairs and P.L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Akademi. The festival will be inaugurated on Tuesday, 9 August at Rabindra Natya Mandir in the presence of Governor of Maharashtra Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi, Producer Director Satish Kaushik and Vani Tripathi Tikku will also grace the inauguration ceremony. Director of National School of Drama, Professor Ramesh Chandra Goud will preside over the programme.

The festival is open for public. The festival will showcase plays of renowned theatre directors based on life and sacrifices of our freedom fighters. Drama ‘I am Subhash’ directed by Chandrakant Tiwari will be played on the first day of the festival. On August 10, play 'Gandhi-Ambedkar' by Dr. Mangesh Bansod will be performed. Rupesh Pawar's play "August Kranti" will be presented on August 11 and "Tilak and Agarkar" directed by Sunil Joshi will be presented on August 12. The festival will conclude on August 13 with the play 'Rang De Basanti Chola' directed by Mohammad Nazir Qureshi.

17-Jul-2022: MoS Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal opens the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav- 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2022

Ministry of Culture, Government of India is celebrating India’s 75th year of Independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. On this occasion, National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi is organizing a festival “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav- 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2022 (Azadi Segment)” to remember and pay tribute to our freedom fighters, under “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 2022” from 16th July to 14th August 2022. The opening ceremony of the festival was inaugurated by  Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, Govt. of India Sh. Arjun Ram Meghwal. Ms. Malini Awasthi, Padma Shree Awardee, Renowned Indian folk Singer and Sh. Arvind Kumar and Director, Ministry of Culture, were among those who were present on the occasion .

Addressing on the  occasion , Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that there are many unsung heroes of freedom struggle who have actively participated in the freedom movement, yet have been unable to become a part of our  history of freedom struggle. Giving an example ,  he also mentioned that in the year 1913 in Maangarh, the tribes of that region have been brutally tortured and killed but it is not a well highlighted incident. The theatre activists and the National School of Drama should come forward to prepare plays based on those incidents switch should be performed across the country to make the citizens aware of such heroes and bring out their stories of bravery and courage, he added.

Ms. Malini Awasthi in her address mentioned the various folk songs that were being sung across large part of India in the praise of the freedom fighters. Many of such songs were banned by the British Government but folk artists kept on singing them and thus taking the stories of unsung heroes to the next generation. Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Director, National School of Drama, presided over the festival.

The opening ceremony followed by the performance of the play “Aranyadhipati Tantia Mama” Directed by Sh. Bansi Kaul.

2-Feb-2019: 20th Bharat Rang Mahotsav inaugurated in New Delhi

The  Minister of State for Culture (I/C), Govt. of India, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, inaugurated the 21-day-long nationwide theatre spectacle at Kamani Auditorium in a program presided over by Dr. Arjun Deo Charan, Acting Chairman, NSD Society and other senior officers of Culture Ministry in New Delhi.

The 20th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the international theatre festival of India, is organized by National School of Drama (NSD), one of the prominent training institutions in the world. The National School of Drama (NSD) is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. The 20th BRM comes with 111 national and international acts in its basket that includes folk and other traditional theatre forms, invitee plays, and productions by the students of the National School of Drama.

The inaugural ceremony was followed by a 50-minute musical performance ‘Karanth ke Rang’ based on the compositions of late Shri B V Karanth, directed by Shri Amod Bhatt and presented by Rangpurva group, Mumbai. Shri Karanth was a well-known director, actor and musician of modern Indian theatre in Kannada as well as Hindi. His plays like ‘Jokumara Swamy’, ‘Sankranti’, ‘Huchu Kudure’, and ‘Oedipus’ were trendsetters, which touched upon aspects of language music, songs and stylization. Shri Karanth’s use of unusual instruments such as wood, stones, etc. in creating music and his ability to blend contemporary, classical and folk genres reflected his originality and style. He was an alumnus of batch 1962 of the National School of Drama and later became its director.

The 20th edition of BRM will also include allied activities such as, ‘Director’s Meet’, ‘Living Leg-ends’, and ‘Master Class’. Apart from New Delhi, the NSD arranges parallel festivals of the 20th BRM in Dibrugarh (4th to 10th February, 2019), Varanasi (7th to 13th February, 2019), Ranchi (9th to 15th February, 2019), Mysore (11th to 17th February, 2019), and Rajkot (13th to 19th February, 2019). The festival will culminate in New Delhi on 21st February, 2019

The Journey of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM): Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the annual international theatre festival of India is organized by the National School of Drama (NSD), was established two decades ago to stimulate the growth and development of theatre across India. Originally a national festival showcasing the work of the most creative theatre workers in India, BRM has evolved to international scope, hosting theatre groups from around the world, and is now the largest theatre festival of Asia. Till date, BRM was celebrated in New Delhi and has travelled to several cities in India, presenting an overwhelming 1787 plays, and riveted thousands of audiences who basked in the glory of heart-winning stories and superior performances.

14-Jul-2022: National School of Drama to organize the festival "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2022 (Azadi Segment)" from 16th July to 14th August

Ministry of Culture, Government of India is celebrating India's 75 years of Independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. On this occasion, National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi is organizing a festival "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2022 (Azadi Segment)" to remember and pay tribute to our freedom fighters, under "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 2022".

Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Director, NSD while addressing the media informed that under this series, 30 plays would be showcased in different cities of India. The festival will be inaugurated on 16th July 2022 at Kamani auditorium, New Delhi and subsequently it will be organized in 5 other cities of the country namely Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Bengaluru and Mumbai. A special show for the culmination of this festival will be organized in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on 14th August 2022.

He specially mentioned that under the Azadi segment, NSD will hold a special play on the eve of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Kargil Ek Natya Katha at the premises of National War Memorial on 25th July where Minister of Defence and Chief of Army Staff have been invited. On 14th August, a special play would be organised at Jawaharlal Outdoor Stadium.

Shri Gaur also informed about the online booking systems for entry into all places where the plays would be organised . Entry will be Free after registration through the www.nsd.gov.in website, on First come first served basis.

5-Jul-2022: National School of Drama celebrates culmination ceremony of series of 5 plays of Traditional Regional Theatre

National School of Drama today  celebrated the culmination ceremony of  series of 5 plays of Traditional Regional Theatre by Sri Vinayaka Natyamandali Surabhi Theatre, Hyderabad. The five plays included Mayabazar, Bhaktha Prahalada, Pathala Bhairavi, Yashoda Krishna and Srinivasa Kalyanam.

Shri. G. Kishan Reddy,  Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North East Region  and Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary IGNCA graced the occasion .

On the occasion Union Minister G.K Reddy said "I am glad that Surabhi Natak Mandali is introducing the great culture of South India to Delhi and is also fulfilling the dream of "Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat" of  Shri Narendra Modi ji ".

Shri G.K Reddy also added  "On 15 August 2022, when India will complete 75 years of its independence, on that day in every house, we all will hoist the tricolour"

The Union Minister also urged people to come in large numbers and promote  the traditional Regional  theatre.

The Union Minister also added “India is completing 75 years of its independence this year, and is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav ,therefore it is necessary that we introduce our great culture to the country and the world”.

National School of Drama  is an important cultural organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. With the various programs and schemes NSD is now present in all parts of India. Ministry of Culture is celebrating India's 75th year of Independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav participating in this celebration with its innovative ideas and programs which not only highlights the achievements of many freedom fighters but inspire Indians to take pride in India and do more for the betterment of fellow Indians.

12-Sep-2020: President appoints new Chairman for NSD Society 

Veteran Actor Paresh Rawal has been appointed as Chairman of National School of Drama Society by President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind. Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism Shri Prahlad Singh Patel congratulated Shri Paresh Rawal and said that his talent will benefit the students and artists of the country.

Mr. Paresh Rawal has been appointed to the post of Chairman, NSD Society for four years. Mr. Rawal is an actor par excellence in both Theatre and Film. It's been almost four decades of him serving the film and theatre industry for which he has won numerous awards, including the prestigious National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1994. In 2014, he was conferred with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for his contribution to the entertainment industry. He also served as a former member of Parliament.

Commenting on the appointment Vice Chairman, National School of Drama Society Dr. Shri Arjun Deo Charan said “We are really happy with the decision of the government to appoint Paresh ji for this position. Our students, faculty members and others will get benefit to work with the veteran actor. National School of Drama will be immensely benefited by his long experience in the field.”.

Brief introduction of National School of Drama (NSD): Established in 1959, the National School of Drama is an autonomous organization, fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. One of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world, NSD had its inception under the aegis of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and became an independent entity in 1975. It offers a 3-year, full-time, residential training program in various aspects of theatre. The enviable list of alumni and faculty members have ensured that the institution remains at the helm of performing arts – several theatre practitioners who passed from the prestigious institution, including playwrights, actors, directors, set and light designers and music directors, have enriched the Indian theatre and continue to do so. Apart from theatre, the artistic manifestations of NSD alumni have often left an indelible mark in other media as well. There are two performing wings of NSD – the Repertory Company and Theatre-in Education Company (TiE) that started in 1964 and 1989, respectively. Along with NSD, New Delhi four centres have been established at Varanasi, Gangtok, Agartala and Bengaluru under consolidation of outreach programme.

6-Nov-2019: National School of Drama’s 11th Bal Sangam to begin from 9th November

National School of Drama, one of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India announced the commencement of its much awaited 11th edition of Bal Sangam from 9th-12th November 2019, in its premises. The 11th edition of the festival will showcase enthralling folk & traditional performing Arts & folk Theatre from 12 states of India dedicated to children.

Bal Sangam, an outreach programme of Sanskaar Rang Toli (Theatre-in-Education Company), in every alternate year brings forth both the heritage and legacy of traditional art forms and performances that are presented by children belonging to traditional performing families, guru paramparas, and institutions across the country.

The four-day cultural mela will begin on November 9th, five days ahead of the Children's Day with an inaugural performance ‘Rangoli’ by folk and traditional child artistes of India, choreographed by renowned choreographer Shri Bharat Sharma, who has an illustrious career spanning over three decades. The Festival also includes folk dance, martial arts, acrobatics, street play performances and also acts like juggling, puppetry and magic shows.

To encourage eagerness in children for traditional performances, states like Assam, Odisha, Rajasthan, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerela, Gujarat, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh will bring to the fore the magic of folk performances and plays so that Indian cultural heritage will be preserved in this rapidly changing world.

Dr. Arjun Deo Charan, Acting Chairman, National School of Drama said, “The festival is an ensemble of various performing traditional art forms that are presented by children. We are proud that the TIE Company has been working hard to make children know about their own culture, traditions and values,”

Highlighting the importance of theatre and folk performances, Shri Suresh Sharma, Director-in-Charge, National School of Drama said “Theatre and folk performances are a great learning medium for exploring and sensitizing children towards issues. Such activities and festivals are a wonderful platform to not just perform, but learn, travel, and share. NSD believes that theatre makes a person sensitive towards issues and an active participant of society as it boosts powers of communication. Theatre brings in all these qualities and if children are introduced to this wonderful, they become better human beings”.

Mr. Abdul Latif Khatana, Chief, Theatre-in-Education, said, “Bal Sangam is a confluence of folk and traditional art forms performed by children. When the child artistes imbibe these folk and traditional art forms with the mastery of their art and their innocence then the performance becomes magic.”

NSD authorities will be making special arrangements through various NGOs working with underprivileged children and social organisations, to reach out and invite children from not so privileged class so as to give them the due privilege to experience and be enriched by this long awaited festival of National School of Drama for children.

There will also be various types of art and craft workshops during the festival from 9th-12th November.

Sanskaar Rang Toli (T.I.E. Co.) of NSD was established on October 16, 1989, and completed 30 years of its existence. Sanskaar Rang Toli is the only theatre education resource centers in the country and has worked with around 20 thousand children till date in various workshops. It consists of a group of actor-teachers working with and performing for children. The major focus of the TIE Company is to perform creative, curriculum-based and participatory plays in schools, specially designed and prepared for children of different age groups.

The TIE Company has done more than 2000 performances in various parts of the country. More than 10 lakh children, apart from college students, teachers, parents and theatre lovers, have witnessed these plays in approximately all the states in the country as well as internationally such as Poland, China, Philippines and Japan.

9-Jul-2019: National School of Drama is running 4 regional centers under consolidation of outreach program

National School of Drama (NSD), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, enrolls 27 students every year to its 3 years’ Post Graduate Course in Dramatics Arts through Selection process by conducting interview audition at 12 centres all over the country to attract talent from all regions of the country. Further, NSD organizes various festivals and workshops to attract the talent in the field of drama and acting i.e.; Bharat Rang Mahotsav and North East Festivals etc. Theatre-in-education company conducts workshops for children every year.

The Broad-Based Committee (Vision Committee) set up by the National School of Drama (NSD) Society in February 2005, inter-alia, recommended opening of five regional centres of the NSD across the country including Bengaluru (Karnataka),  and at Kolkata, Maharashtra/Goa, Jammu & Kashmir and in the North East.

Now at present, NSD is running 4 centers under consolidation of outreach program, which are in Gangtok, Bengaluru, Agartala and Varanasi, in addition to Delhi campus.

Established:

Bengaluru (Karnataka)              - July, 1994

Gangtok (Sikkim)                       - July, 2011

Agartala (Tripura)                      - August, 2012

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)          - August, 2018

8-Jan-2019: A proposal to declare NSD as an Institution of National Importance is under consideration of the Government: Dr. Mahesh Sharma

The Broad-Based Committee (Vision Committee) set up by the National School of Drama (NSD) Society in February 2005, inter-alia, had recommended opening of five regional centres of the NSD across the country. On the basis of these recommendations, the decision to establish five regional centres during the 11th Five Year Plan period (2007-2012), one each at Kolkata, Mumbai/Goa, J&K, and North-East, besides upgrading the existing Regional Resource cum Research Centre, Bengaluru to a full-fledged regional centre, was taken by the Government.

These regional centres were to be established in consultation with concerned State Governments, who were required to provide land/accommodation for the purpose. So far, only Government of Karnataka has provided land/accommodation in 2013 at Bengaluru for the purpose. Till date, no other concerned State Government has provided land to the NSD for opening of its regional branches.

Under NSD’s Out-reach/Extension Programme, two Centres, one at Gangtok (Sikkim) and another at Agartala (Tripura), are functioning and are also conducting one year theatre training course in addition to the one being conducted at Bengaluru (Karnataka).

A proposal to declare NSD as an Institution of National Importance is under consideration of the Government. Till such time a final decision is taken in the matter, the NSD has decided to defer the opening of regional centres.

National School of Drama: The National School of Drama is one of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It was set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi as one of its constituent units in 1959. In 1975, it became an independent entity and was registered as an autonomous organization under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Training in the School is highly intensive and is based on a thorough, comprehensive, carefully planned syllabus which covers every aspect of theatre and in which theory is related to practice. As a part of their training, students are required to produce plays which are then performed before the public.