National School of Drama (NSD)
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Background
Sheokesh Mishra , Class Act “India Today” 21/8/2017
In 1958, the Sangeet Natak Akademi took over the Asian Theatre Institute, run by the Bharatiya Natya Sangh. It was renamed the National School of Drama (NSD) and Asian Theatre Institute a year later. But NSD got its soul when Ebrahim Alkazi, with his immense knowledge of art, theatre and literature and dramatic skills acquired at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), took over in 1962. NSD was transformed into a premier theatre training institute under his watch. Jawaharlal Nehru came to see his production of Andha Yug in 1963, when he mounted it in the ruins of the Purana Qila in Delhi.
Its productions, be it student or repertory, have had even leaders like Nehru, Indira Gandhi and LK Advani in the audience. Theatre festival Bharangam has in the last 20 years provided a national platform for plays in all Indian languages, motifs, traditions as well as world theatre. Its graduates have ranged from Naseeruddin Shah to Irrfan Khan, the late Om Puri to the veteran Pankaj Kapoor.
YEAR-WISE DEVELOPMENTS
2024
Lo Aai Wapas Sone Ki Chidiya
Priyanka.Dasgupta@timesgroup.com , February 14, 2024: The Times of India
NSD ‘fatwa’ on play with PM speech reference creates ripples
Kolkata : A letter from the registrar of National School of Drama, Delhi, asking all organisations that have obtained a grant under the scheme of ‘guru shishya parampara (repertory grant)’ to stage a play titled ‘Lo Aai Wapas Sone Ki Chidiya’ having three themes — ‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’, ‘Panch Pran’ and ‘Vikashit Bharat’ — has sent ripples across Bengal’s theatre corridors. The reason is a line from the script of the play, with a reference to PM Modi’s speech at the G20 Summit.
According to the script of ‘Lo Aai Wapas Sone Ki Chidiya’, all three themes have to be mentioned. Also mentioned in the script is the reference to PM Modi’s speech.
State education minister and theatre personality Bratya Basu took to X to protest this mandate. “Our state govt does not factor in who is in favour or against the ruling dis pensation while giving grants. I want to see the repertory grant list on Feb 21 and understand the fate of those groups in Bengal that refuse to toe the line,” Basu told TOI.
Debjani Mukhopadhyay, a volunteer for Bengal’s performance at Bharat Rang Mahotsav, said: “Performing arts groups are required to prepare a production for Jan Bharat Rang. They are required to record the performances live on social media platforms and submit the link to the NSD.” “Above 400 theatre groups have registered. I have no information about the link of forthcoming grants with the consent given by groups for staging this play,” she added. Theatre artist Bibhas Chakraborty toldTOIthat the letter has been sent to Annya Theatre. “I wanted to know if this production has any link with the grant we receive.”
Actor-director Sujan Mukhopadhyay said, “After being blacklisted from 2014 till 2021, we got a meagre grant in 2022-23. I have chosen a play on the theme of ‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’ that talks about Pancham Ved (Natya Shashtra). But we won’t utter the name of any political leader,” he said.
Theatre director Arpita Ghosh, whose group Pancham Vaidik has been a recipient of the repertory grant, has not accepted this mandate. “This play follows the R S S line. It disregards the work done from the Mughal period. I don’t mind being blacklisted from grants,” Ghosh added.
