Mumbai, 14th May 2025 – The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) is pleased to announce the return of its annual Pratibimb Marathi Natya Utsav, from Thursday, 22nd to Sunday, 25th May.
Pratibimb, one of Mumbai’s few dedicated vernacular theatre festivals, reflects the NCPA’s commitment to nurturing and celebrating local theatre communities. Designed to offer a rich, immersive experience, the festival invites audiences to engage deeply with the vibrant world of Marathi theatre.
Launched to celebrate, champion and support Marathi theatre, Pratibimb continues to serve as a dynamic platform for emerging voices and established artistes in the Marathi performing arts space. The 2025 edition promises a culturally rich programme featuring an exciting mix of plays, dramatic readings, spoken-word performances, music, interactive theatre and masterclasses.
From bold contemporary themes in Alive and Asen Me Nasen Me, to the revival of the iconic Purush, and experimental, interactive formats such as Yeh Jo Public Hai, this year’s line-up reflects the creative range and relevance of Marathi theatre today. The programme also includes innovative offerings like Tuji Aukat Kaye?, a bilingual musical inspired by India’s folk traditions, and Sobaticha Karar, a lyrical evening of poetry and music.
Workshops by acclaimed theatre practitioners Sachin Shinde and Geetanjali Kulkarni will offer aspiring artistes and theatre enthusiasts valuable insights and practical learning.
“At the NCPA, we’re passionate about championing diverse voices and giving artistes the space to share their stories with wider audiences. Pratibimb has become a much-loved platform that aims to reflect the heart and soul of Marathi theatre, welcoming both celebrated voices and bold new talent. Productions are subtitled in English, allowing audiences outside Marathi speakers to engage with this work on stage. That, for me, is the power of theatre—it brings people together and creates shared experiences. We’re especially proud this year to premiere Alive, the winning play from our new writing initiative Darpan, which highlights the promising future of Marathi playwriting.” Mr. Bruce Guthrie, Head – Theatre & Films, NCPA.