NSD Bharat Rang Mahotsav in Ahmedabad.

NSD Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2016 Main Event was held  in Delhi but the parallel event was held here in Ahmedabad. 

I had the pleasure of attending one of the performances  with a Friend  

Akash Bhatt.

 An architect and an accomplished Musician. 

here's what he says about the festival. 

"“Did I read it right? NSD organised a theater Fest in Ahmedabad????”

“Aree yaar, I heard that too. I’ll get back to you after confirming it”

These is how the theatre goers, The Amdavadis started reacting right after the ‘rumors’ of ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav having a part of it happening in Ahmedabad’ started becoming News in the city.

Since its inception in 1999, Bharat Rang Mahotsav has been travelling to different cities with selected plays. Last year, in order to connect with communities and audiences, the NSD started organizing satellite festivals in four states. For the first time, National School of Drama (NSD) had the satellite festival of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) happen for audiences in Ahmedabad this year. 

The 18th edition of NSD's flagship theatre festival BRM has been conceptualized and designed on the theme - 'Rediscover the magic of theatre'. The festival was inaugurated by chief minister Anandiben Patel on February 5, and the inaugural play 'Stories I want to tell you in person', was performed by Belvoir group of Australia.

A much needed event for Amdavadis indeed - Plays in Different languages, different genres as well performed by different nations - Most of them, probably new to many of theater goers of Ahmedabad – due to inaccessibility to such events as this would happen only at one place and that too limited for the members of the institute or club or very expensive for a common Amdavadi to afford. 

“Aree Yaar, maja avi gayi.. Joto keva judi judi jaat na natako chhe..vaah”

(Mate, I enjoyed this like anything – so many different types of plays I saw – wow)

“I really enjoyed the detailing as how the text was given three dimensional meaningful meaning using lights, sound and visuals – videos as well, there is much more than just understanding the character and performing it as an actor. The design of space, use of props and light as well as sound, this time more effective and interesting – without which the play would have been so stereotype and boring. It made me feel like I was witnessing everything rather than seating on a comfortable chair and watch a few actors perform. Wow.. ” 

This is one of the many comments I heard there – a non theatergoer ended up commenting like this – made me wonder how effective and encouraging …

“The Dance and Music and the spontaneity of Shri Lankan actors combined with their sense of humor made me go into something like meditation – I remember the time it started and after it ended – in between I have no idea how long was the time or what was happening around me …in fact, I would never go and watch any  Shakespeare - theater – as they are boring like hell…but this Shri Lankans used their folk dance – music – etc. and made it most enjoyable …“ is what a friend of mine said as he attended any event like this after more than a decade..

" Every day at 18:00 hours there were talks organized.. Open to all ...Famous or reputed or important theatre personalities were one of the participants with a local coordinator.
A very important indeed for students of theatre, script writing, direction, play writers etc. anything to do with theatre..even for the theatre goers..
Mainly because there's a big difference between reading in a magazine or in a newspaper about a personality and to hear him talk about himself or his work or his passion in person ..and even ask questions or to be able have a conversation... This was equally important programme of the festival....these talked which were give the name 'sangoshthi' were very intense..very different..each one..
One i remember where the coordinator, after the talk of a famous personality, left the participants including professors puzzled with amazingly intelligent questions..
Concerning the functionality or usefulness of the institutions in actual learning compared to that in real life... Questions make one keep thinking about it and help find the answers...rather than accepting given answers...wow...so wonderful.."

Different interpretations and ways of presenting plays is always the most exciting as well as critical part of theater performance – of course in relation to the likes and dislikes as well vocabulary of the audiences. But, Ahmedabad and the Ahmedabadis have proven this time, that they are receptive to every new form of art – theater – presentation – as long as it can really communicate and convey the meaning.. Mr. Bhatt – the Dean of the H K Arts College where the whole festival was held, stood up from the audiences on the last day -  during closing speech of the NSD director – and demanded and offered more cooperation in future -  not only plays but also to include workshops.. 

If you were there, you could see…..the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the eagerness of the new theater goers who were impressed by the play they saw the day before, the enthusiasm of the performers, the curiosity in the eyes of  of the grey haired man standing behind a table full of books related to theater written in Gujarati language – audience made of kids of 6 years to kids of 60 years old and even older…all of these in the front yard of H K Arts College with the fencing covered by lovely huge posters/banners with all information about the plays yet hardly approached by any..lit lamps highlighting the pathways… on one side sound of the busy Ashram Road and all of sudden the old loud typical Bell in Indian auditoriums announcing the beginning of the performance…

For sure, this festival has made me curious about the next such opportunity city would be given