PANAJI: A Goan theatre production based on the life of freedom fighter Bala Raya Mapari was staged as part of the National Theatre Festival 2026, organised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Directorate of Art & Culture, Kala Academy Goa and Rajiv Kala Mandir, Ponda. The play, ‘Desh Raag – The Life of Goan Martyr Bala Raya Mapari’, written and directed by Yugank Naik, was selected to represent Goa at the festival, which marked 150 years of Vande Mataram during Mahakavi Kalidasa Jayanti.
According to the organisers, the nationwide festival featured more than 150 theatre productions in over 39 Indian languages and dialects, with participation from over 4,000 theatre artists performing simultaneously across the country. The production featured a cast and crew of more than 85 artists and was staged at Kala Academy, Goa.
Among those present were Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar, Priol MLA Govind Gaude, Goa University Dean Anuradha Wagle, theatre artiste Ravindra Amonkar, and officials from the Directorate of Art & Culture and Kala Academy. The play depicts the life and sacrifice of Bala Raya Mapari, a Goan freedom fighter, through drama and music. Organisers said selected productions, along with photographs and videos from the festival, will be showcased on the official digital platforms of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
