Celebrating the Art of Theatre: Qadir Ali Baig Festival Returns
Hyderabad, Oct 1- 23 : The eagerly awaited 18th edition of the prestigious Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival is all set to kick off in Hyderabad on October 5, promising five days of captivating theatrical experiences.
This year’s festival will take place at iconic venues including the Salar Jung Museum and Taramati Baradari. The lineup boasts plays with diverse themes, featuring the works of renowned writers like Ismat Chughtai, German playwright Sibylle Berg, and more. These plays will explore themes such as human relationships, the history of dissent, episodes from the Ramayana, the grip of greed, and the passion for acting.
The festival will showcase the talents of esteemed artists from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Anantapur, including Anjan Srivastav, Masood Akhtar, Mita Vashisht, Sunil Shanbag, Ayesha Raza, Anubha Fatehpuria, Dr. Dalavai Kullayappa, and many others. Genres will range from traditional puppet theatre to adaptations, biographical dramas, poetry, dance, and satire.
In addition to the captivating performances, the festival will offer free master classes conducted by prominent figures in the theatre world, including Mohammad Ali Baig, Anjan Srivastav, and Sunil Shanbag. These classes will cover topics such as theatre management, the Indian method of acting, and the intersection of life and art in theatre.
The Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival is curated by Padma Shri recipient Mohammad Ali Baig as a heartfelt tribute to his legendary father, the theatre doyen Qadir Ali Baig. The festival is presented in collaboration with Telangana Tourism, Salar Jung Museum, Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, and is proudly headlined by the Aparna Group.
Mohammad Ali Baig highlighted the festival’s remarkable journey over the past 18 years, where it has evolved into one of the subcontinent’s most renowned theatre gatherings. The festival has been a platform for established theatre icons and has provided a stage for emerging talent from various cities.
From classical to contemporary theatre, puppetry, circus performances, biographical dramas, solo acts, mythological tales, and avant-garde productions, the festival has presented a rich tapestry of theatrical experiences for enthusiasts in the southern region. Eminent thespians like Habib Tanvir, Usha Ganguli, Tom Alter, Surekha Sikri, and Jalabala Vaidya have graced this platform with their last stage appearances, while actors like Alyque Padamsee, Pankaj Kapur, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda have made memorable comebacks to theatre here.
Leading luminaries such as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Anupam Kher have paid annual tributes to Qadir Ali Baig through their performances at this distinguished theatre assembly.
