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Natya Bharati celebrates 40 years of theatre with special Maryland show
Natya Bharti was launched by theatre-pioneers such as Dr. Taverekere “Kanti” Srikantaiah and Vijay Deshpande in 1984.
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Staff Reporter - Mon, 22, Sep 2025
- 02:33 EDT
- 26
The performance of Dohri Zindagi at the Kreeger Auditorium in Rockville, Maryland. / Handout:Zafar Iqbal
Natya Bharati, a Washington, D.C. based Indian theater group, staged two complimentary performances of Dohri Zindagi (Dual Life) on Sept 20 and 21, at the Kreeger Auditorium in Rockville, Maryland.
The special performances marked the four decades of community support that Natya Bharati has received from the Indian-American audience.
'Dohri Zindagi' has been adapted from a story by Padma Shri Vijaydan Detha and explores love, identity, gender, and social justice through folk-inspired storytelling.
The narrative challenges patriarchal traditions and rigid social constructs surrounding gender roles and dowry, underscoring Natya Bharati’s dedication to socially relevant theatre.
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Founded in 1984, Natya Bharati is among the oldest Indian theater groups in North America. A nonprofit cultural organization, it has staged over 100 productions in Hindi and English, ranging from classics by Mohan Rakesh, Vijay Tendulkar, Girish Karnad, and Badal Sircar to contemporary works by Suneeta Misra, Sujit Rao, and Nishi Chawla.
The four-decades celebration show featured a large ensemble cast consisting of names like Suma Muralidhar, Sushil Rattan, Sonia Arya, Nitshu Joshi, Rajiv Paul, Kshama Bute-Shinde, Pankaj Sharma, Pooja Tiwari, Nidhi Kundu, Debanjan Chowdhury, Siyona Dharkar, Shanaya Singh, Shruti Desai, and Manoj Tiwari. The drama was directed by Chetna Gola and produced by Manoj Tiwari.
(from left)Zafar Iqbal, Suma Muralidhar and Nuzaira Azam / Handout: Zafar IqbalSince its inception, the theatre group has sought to bring quality South Asian theater to the Washington, D.C., area, engage first- and second-generation audiences, and nurture local talent in all aspects of theater.
Natya Bharti was launched by theatre-pioneers such as Dr. Taverekere “Kanti” Srikantaiah and Vijay Deshpande and has continually evolved with the community while staying true to its vision of meaningful, inclusive theater.
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