Strong Presence of Udaipur’s Theatre and Literature at the Grand Theatre Festival

The tenth edition of the Bikaner Theatre Festival, held in Bikaner, witnessed a remarkable representation of Udaipur’s theatre and literary community. On this occasion, theatre director Sunil Tank and senior litterateur Kundan Mali from Udaipur were specially invited to participate in the festival.

Considered one of the most prestigious theatre events in the country, the festival is regarded as the **second-largest theatre festival in India after the Bharat Rang Mahotsav organized by the National School of Drama. Popularly known as a grand confluence of theatre performances, the festival was held over six days this year, featuring theatre artists from across the country presenting their plays.

During the festival, more than 30 stage productions and around 50 street plays were performed. In addition, several discussions on theatre and literature were organized, bringing together many renowned writers and theatre personalities from across India. Prominent participants included Nand Kishore Acharya, Pradeep Bhatnagar, Arjun Dev Charan, Gopal Acharya, Madhu Acharya, Harish B. Sharma, and Surendra Dharaniya, along with many other writers and playwrights.

This year’s festival was dedicated to former director of the National School of Drama, Devendra Raj Ankur, and the event was inaugurated in his presence. The festival has gained national as well as international recognition due to the consistent efforts of Sudesh Vyas and his team.

During the event, the Nirmohi Vyas Award was presented to Ajay Kumar. In the presence of NSD Repertory Company head Rajesh Singh, several classic plays were staged by the NSD Repertory, including productions based on the iconic play Andha Yug by Ram Gopal Bajaj.

Meanwhile, renowned actor Makarand Deshpande—known for his roles in films like Sarfarosh, Swades, Makdee, and Jungle—captivated the audience with his powerful performance in the play Piyakkad.

Throughout the city of Bikaner, various venues hosted theatrical performances, literary discussions, book exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions, music programs, folk art performances, heritage walks, and street plays. The festival activities ran daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., creating a vibrant cultural atmosphere.

With the participation of more than 1,000 theatre artists and literary figures from across the country, the festival transformed the entire city into a grand cultural gathering.

At the festival, senior litterateur Kundan Mali shared his thoughts on Udaipur’s contribution to literature. Theatre director Sunil Tank represented the city by introducing the audience to Udaipur’s theatre traditions, folk arts, and rich cultural heritage, while also highlighting the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of the Udaipur region.