18th All-India Bangali Short Drama competition concluded successfully
Dilip Guha, New Delhi
The 18th All-India Bangali Short Drama competition organised by the New Delhi KaliBari at LTG Auditorium here concluded successfully with the announcement of results and prize distribution last Monday. The prestigious festival was held from 9th March 2026 to 15th Mar 2026 and witnessed participation from leading Bengali theatre groups across India.
All-India Bangali Short Drama competition, organised continuously for, is unique in its scale and format and is the only one of its kind in Delhi. Renowned theatre groups from Delhi, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, Ahmedabad and other regions participated in this year’s edition, reflecting upon varying degrees of artistic accomplishments and aspirations of proscenium theatre practice by the Bengalis. With West Bengal dominating in numbers, six groups representing Delhi completed the picture.
Showing a sign of its maturity, the drama fest, over the last decade, has seen a tremendous leap in the quality of content and performance. Out of a total of twenty-one theatre groups that took part, fifteen were from West Bengal and six from Delhi. Their productions tackled pressing social issues, blending genres of sorrow, laughter, and comedy to expose and critique prevailing social evils. This year, performances of these selected Bengali short plays were beautifully staged and judged by renowned theatre practitioners Shri Shankar Basu Thakur, Dr Tirthankar Chanda and Smt. Sipra Das.
Highlighting the relevance of short plays in today’s digital-dominated era, Swapan Ganguly, secretary of New Delhi Kalibari, said that such formats can help reconnect audiences with live theatre. “At a time when the internet occupies a significant portion of our daily lives, short dramas can play an important role in drawing people back to theatres,” he noted.
Ganguly observed that contemporary artists are increasingly inclined towards theatre and possess a strong understanding of its depth, discipline and demands. “We are witnessing not only remarkable talent but also a great deal of enthusiasm for this new format among young artistes. Short drama certainly has a future in our country, especially as the current generation often finds it difficult to devote two to three hours to a full-length play,” he added.
Speaking about the initiative, Ganguly said that despite being a relatively new concept, it received an overwhelming response from theatre groups as well as individual participants. “We received a tremendous number of script submissions. Out of these, 21 were selected, and teams were recognised across various categories, including Best Drama, Director, Script, Actor, Actress, Production and Technician,” he said.
This year too, teams from Bengal dominated the event, outperforming teams from other regions. In a thrilling display of talent, teams from Bengal emerged victorious at the national drama competition, outshining 21 theatre teams from across India, including six from Delhi.
Although Delhi teams put up a good show, they need to improve. Delhi teams put up a commendable show; they need to up their game, said a judge, citing, among others, inadequate facilities like rehearsal spaces as a major hurdle. Interestingly, Bengal’s success can be attributed to affordable rental spaces available for rehearsals, which is a luxury Delhi teams can’t quite match.
Delhi’s Karolbag Bangiya Samaj managed to secure only one prize for their play Tahar Namti Ranjana, whereas The Akriti Drama Society stole the show for Delhi teams, bagging four prizes, including the 3rd best production award for their play ‘Janak‘.
The play wowed audiences through its nuanced storytelling, bold direction and production, earning rave reviews. “The response was awesome, with spectators praising the artists’ professional rigour,” said an elated Akriti team member after lifting the third-best production trophy.
The play “Raghu Dakat er Chiti”, staged by “Bara Dighirdhar Yuger Yatri” theatre group from Chandannagar, West Bengal, was adjudged the Best Performance of the competition. Apart from being adjudged Best by Judges’ Verdict and winning the Best by Audience Choice awards, and first best production, it dominated several other categories, securing 2nd Best Director for Ramkrishna Mondal, 2nd Best Lighting, Best 2nd best Makeup, 1st Best Stage(joint winner), 1st best actor Ramkrishna Mondal and 5th Best Actor for Sayan.
Over its four-decade journey, Yuger Yatri has consistently sought to expand its reach among theatre lovers. Its activities include staging new productions, organising seminars, workshops and exhibitions in schools, and participating in 20–30 festivals annually across West Bengal and other states. Looking ahead, the group plans to establish a Drama Research Centre and School, further strengthening its contribution to the cultural landscape.
The play Raghu Dakat er Chiti, written by renowned playwright Shri Sankar Basu Thakur, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Paschim Banga Natya Academy, was beautifully staged under the direction of Ramkrishna Mondal. Set in 19th-century Bengal, the play portrays the famous dacoit “Raghu”, who warned his victims of impending robberies through advance letters. It begins when the zamindar of Jhingar Char receives such a letter, unfolding into a fast-paced comedy. Blending humour with sharp insight, it reflects the socio-economic and political realities of the era while delivering a strong social message.
Director Mondal, who began his theatre journey during his school days, has since earned acclaim across West Bengal, other Indian states, and Bangladesh. A full-time theatre practitioner, he leads his Chandannagar-based group Bara Dighirdhar Yuger Yatri and also lends his expertise in direction and production design to other troupes. Known for nurturing young talent, he takes particular pride in guiding children into stage acting.
Names of the winning teams under various categories are:
Radhanagar Darpan Cultural Organisation, Kolkata, play Ekla Cholar Kotha (3rd best male artist, and best script)
Yuger Yatri, Chandannagar, Hooghly, West Bengal Play: Raghu Dakat er Chithi-(Best production,2nd best Direction, 1st and 5th Best male Artist, Best Stage craft jt,2nd best light, Best make up)
Drama Society Aakriti, Delhi Play: Janak (3rd Best Prodcuction,3rd best direction,3rd female artist,2nd best make up)
Bardhaman Graph Society, West Bengal Play: Chup Dorjata, 4th best female artist, Best stage craft (Jt), Best music, best light jt,3rd best makeup)
Angan Belgharia, West Bengal Play: Chorabali( 3rd Best Direction, 4th best male artist,2nd female Artist ,3rd Best stage craft,2nd best Music,)
Bardhaman Sadar Ankur Natya Samiti, West Bengal Play: Sanghat (2nd Best Production, Best Direction,2nd best male artist,5th best female artist,3rd Best music, Best light jt,)
Abhaya Kamargachi Play: Budhiya (3rd best light)
Karol Bagh Bangiya Sansad, Delhi Play: Tahar Namti Ranjana (2nd best stage craft)
Anveshak Dramatic & Cultural Association, Kolkata, West Bengal Play: Ontohin Best Child artist Samriddhi Naskar (as Devi)
Uttarpara Uttarayan, Hooghly, West Bengal Play: Falgudhara (best female artist).
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PHOTO COURTESY Veteran Photo Journalist, Delhi, Shanker Chakravarty
Feature PHOTO “Team Bara Dighirdhar Yuger Yatri theatre group from Chandannagar-PHOTO COURTESY Veteran Photo Journalist, Delhi, Shanker Chakravarty”
