Curtains rise: 200 artistes from 15 drama schools to bring monsoon mosaic of theatre to Bhopali life

Bhopal: The state capital is ready to awaken beneath a silken canopy of monsoon grey—its lakes brimmed, their edges shimmering, the air humming with dramatic and poetic promise. Here, at Ravindra Bhavan, the Harihar National Theatre Festival unfurls from July 24–29, accompanied by an immersive seminar (July 25–28) that will draw over 200 students and researchers from more than 15 drama schools across India.Culture minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi, speaking to media on Tuesday at the Tribal Museum, said, "Rains coax creativity from the soul. Inspired by this elemental muse, the festival invites its audience to witness ‘Samudra Manthan', directed by Chittaranjan Tripathi, on opening night, July 24—a cosmic churning of imagination and myth. As showers patter on the rooftops, the next evening brings 'Mohe Piya', under the deft direction of Waman Kendre—an ode to longing and devotion, its verses drifting like water-coloured dreams. By July 26, the festival embraces dual meditations: ‘Suvasantak', curated by Padma Shri Puru Dadheech, weaving classical Kathak rhythms into the spirit of ‘good ending', and ‘Natyopatti' with Sangeeta Gundecha's philosophic tapestry on theatre's sacred birth." The academic core of the festival resonates with the ancient rhythms of Bharata Muni's ‘Natyashastra', reaffirming roots that are two millennia deep.Students of Panjab University, Kashi Vishwavidyalaya, DY Patil University, Mansingh Tomar University, Jammu University, Bhartendu Natya academy, Vivekanand University, Rajasthan Univesity, and Mahatma Gandhi Hindi Vishwavidyalaya will participate in the event along with students of MP drama schools.Some of the doyens will guide the workshops and dialogues that anchor youth to venerable tradition while planting seeds of innovation, said director culture, NP Namdeo, who was present at the press meet. He added, "The monsoon theatre arrives on wings of curiosity and reverie: Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, Satish Dave, and Ankit Mishra contribute their unique voices, while ‘Sheela', the soulful production led by Sandhya Purecha (chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi), promises eloquence in every breath."Director MP school of drama, Sanjay Shrivastava was also present at the meet.Over six rain-kissed nights, stories will be spun with finesse and spiritual resonance in the form of poetic dramas that reflect season's lush intensity. "And as final bows are taken, festival's essence will be preserved for posterity—documented and archived to guide future scholars towards their own creative monsoons," said Namdeo.