Sri Vijaya Puram, July 15: Patriotic theatre performances by government school students marked the National Theatre Festival 2026 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on July 15, as the nationwide event commemorated the 150th anniversary of the National Song Vande Mataram and the birth anniversary of Mahakavi Kalidasa through simultaneous productions across India.
The National Theatre Festival 2026 was organised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the Department of Education, Andaman and Nicobar Administration. Held under the theme “Bharat Speaks Through Theatre | Youth Theatre for National Awakening”, the festival was conducted simultaneously at nearly 150 venues across all 28 States and 8 Union Territories.
According to the organisers, more than 150 plays were staged in over 39 languages and dialects by more than 4,000 young theatre artists, reflecting India’s cultural diversity and promoting national unity through modern theatre, folk theatre, puppet theatre and other indigenous performance traditions.
In the Islands, two patriotic productions were presented by students from government schools before large audiences.
At the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School Auditorium in Sri Vijaya Puram, students of Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School staged the play “Kalapani – Cellular Jail ki Pukar”, directed by Naba Kumar Dhar. The 20-minute production depicted the sacrifices, courage and resilience of freedom fighters imprisoned in the historic Cellular Jail.
Addressing the gathering, Director of Education Aditya Sangotra highlighted the significance of Vande Mataram during India’s freedom movement and encouraged students to visit the National Memorial Cellular Jail to understand its contribution to the country’s struggle for independence.
At the Government Model Senior Secondary School Auditorium, students of Government Secondary School, Junglighat presented “Netaji – Azadi ka Jwalamukhi”, directed by Arup Kumar Roy. The play portrayed the life, leadership and patriotism of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and received appreciation from the audience.
Deputy Director of Education (Academics) Gyan Sheel Dubey encouraged the participating students and said patriotism is deeply rooted among children. Padma Shri Naresh Chandra Lal, General Council Member and Local Coordinator of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, was also present during the programme.
Both productions received appreciation for their performances, scripts, direction, music, stagecraft and the commitment of the student performers. Teachers, parents, theatre enthusiasts and members of the public attended the programmes in large numbers.
Organisers stated that the festival, held on the occasion of Mahakavi Kalidasa Jayanti, honoured both the legacy of Vande Mataram and one of India’s greatest literary figures. By bringing together young artists, directors and performers from diverse regions and linguistic backgrounds, the National Theatre Festival 2026 sought to promote patriotism, preserve India’s cultural heritage and encourage youth participation in theatre.
The organisers also expressed gratitude to the participating schools, directors, teachers, students, the Department of Education, Andaman and Nicobar Administration and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the national event.
