It was in the year 2012 that Jairangam, a theatre-focussed platform, was launched by the late Deepak Gera (an engineer-turned-theatre aficionado) with a simple dream of creating a space that celebrated art and culture.
That dream has grown bigger, says Mann Gera, festival director of Jairangam Theatre Festival (in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India) through which the team has taken the art form to Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bengaluru, and Rajasthan.
“Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to have some incredible artists grace our stage, including Makarand Deshpande, Arvind Gaur, Atul Satya Kaushik, Rakesh Bedi, Atul Kumar, Manav Kaul, Kalki Koechlin, Purva Naresh, Saurabh Sachdeva, Kumud Mishra, Swati Dubey and Sukant Goel. Each of them has brought something unique, adding to the festival’s journey and spirit.”
A still from Kankad Moti aur Kinwad
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Next week, the 13th edition of this touring festival, named Jairangam Fringes, comes to Bengaluru with two plays (Kankad Moti aur Kinwad and Love Letters, Ninna Preetiya Naanu) and workshops.
This year, Mann says, they wanted to highlight India’s cultural diversity. “Both plays we’re bringing are rooted in different regions and languages, one in Marwari and the other in Kannada. What excites us is that even though they come from such distinct geographies, the stories still feel universal, something everyone can connect with.”
A still from Love Letters, Ninna Preetiya Naanu
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Kankad Moti and Kinwad is a rehearsed reading of stories by Vijaydan Detha, one of the most celebrated voices in Rajasthani literature, says Mann. “His writing is deeply rooted in folklore yet strikingly universal, always holding up a mirror to society. For Bengaluru audiences, experiencing his storytelling on stage will feel both fresh and timeless.”
As for Love Letters, its simplicity and intimacy is what excites the team. “It’s an invitation to pause, to reflect, to revisit the ‘firsts’, the ‘what-ifs’, and the ‘almosts’ of our lives. In a world where we’re all caught in the constant hustle, Love Letters gives us the gift of slowing down.”
In addition to the two productions, the festival will also have a masterclass with theatre personality Prasanna Heggodu, and a workshop with film and theatre actors Ipshita Chakravarty and Ajeet Singh Palawat from Mumbai.
Addressing the city’s vibrant theatre scene, Mann says hosting the festival in Bengaluru was always part of the plan. “We have a community of curators who are constantly watching plays, attending readings, and sharing recommendations with our core team. Over the years, we’ve built a bank of more than 1,000 productions from across the country. From there, we carefully curate what to bring to each region, always keeping in mind what the local audience would connect with the most.”
A still from Love Letters, Ninna Preetiya Naanu
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
As for the evolution of Jairangam Fringes, Mann says while it began as a theatre festival, over time, “we’ve grown into a space that embraces many forms of storytelling, be it music, films, exhibitions, and rehearsed readings. The vision has always been the same: to tell the stories of India, from India, and to India.”
The dream, he says, is to keep expanding, reaching more States, and building a nationwide cultural conversation through the stories they stage.
On September 13 and 14 at The Koramangala Club, CA-17, 6th Cross Rd, 6th Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560095. Tickets on in.bookmyshow.com
Published – September 10, 2025 10:10 am IST
