Jairangam 2025 to Celebrate 100 Years of Guru Dutt with ‘Dastaan-e-Guru Dutt’ in Unique Dastangoi Format

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Jairangam 2025: Marking the centenary of legendary filmmaker and artist Guru Dutt, the 14th edition of Jairangam (Jaipur Theatre Festival) will present Dastaan-e-Guru Dutt, a specially curated dastangoi that narrates his extraordinary life and creative journey. The festival, to be held from 18 to 21 December at Jawahar Kala Kendra, will feature a rich confluence of theatre, music, storytelling and cultural dialogue, including 11 productions, international participation from New Zealand, and performances by renowned theatre and film personalities such as Makarand Deshpande and Filmfare OTT Awards 2025 winner Zahan Kapoor.


To immerse the people of Rajasthan in the vibrant colours of theatre, the 14th Jairangam (Jaipur Theatre Festival) is being organised from 18 to 21 December at Jawahar Kala Kendra. The festival is being jointly organised by 3M Dot Bands Theatre Family Society, Department of Art and Culture, Rajasthan, and Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, where a rich confluence of theatre, art, culture, music and dialogue will be witnessed.

Renowned Bollywood actor Makarand Deshpande and Jairangam Festival Director Mann Gera addressed the media interaction. Sanjay Harpawat, Dr Hema Gera, J K Jaju and Y K Narula were also present on the occasion. Makarand Deshpande highlighted the golden journey of Jairangam and said that Deepak Gera’s vision has today taken a grand form as Jairangam. He added that Deepak Gera always inspired innovation, and it was his motivation that made it possible to create a play like Einstein. He also said that Jaipur’s audience is very special and has kept theatre alive. Appreciating the theme, he said that this year Jairangam is raising women’s voices, which is truly commendable.

Festival Director Mann Gera said that the festival has been curated with the colours of theatre, art and culture. She also shared that this year the festival has been designed keeping women at the centre.

The festival will begin on Thursday, 18 December at 12 Noon with the staging of Makarand Deshpande’s play Einstein for children at the Krishnayan Auditorium. At 2.00 PM, a talk show on “Ajit Rai – Theatre, Cinema and Everything in Between” will be held, featuring Makrand Deshpande, Gulab Singh Tanwar, Dharmendra Nath Ojha, Rajkumar Rajak and Abhishek Goswami. At 4.00 PM, Samina Zehra’s play The Girmit will be staged at Rangayan, followed by an evening performance of Einstein at 7.00 PM, open to audiences of all ages.

Special Highlights of Jairangam This Year

— Over four days: 11 theatre productions, musical performances, dastangoi, exhibitions and more
— Nine plays will be staged in Rajasthan for the first time
— Under the Spotlight Segment, six plays are proposed this year, featuring works by women theatre directors
— Seven plays are directed by women theatre directors
— For the first time, heritage walks will be organised at Jairangam, covering routes from Gem Cinema to Sanganeri Gate, Badi Chaupar, Hawa Mahal, Town Hall to Ram Prakash Theatre, offering insights into Jaipur’s architecture, culture and everyday life
— The Girmit, directed by Samina Zehra, is a theatre production from New Zealand, being staged in India for the first time. Jairangam is not only a platform for international productions but also a strong medium for connecting local artists with global performers. Jaipur’s own artist Mohammad Zaman will share the stage with international artist Nadia Freeman, reflecting meaningful cultural exchange and Jairangam’s commitment to providing an international platform to local talent
— As in previous editions, renowned film and theatre personalities will share the stage at Jairangam, including Makarand Deshpande, Filmfare OTT Awards 2025 winner Zahan Kapoor, international artist Nadia Freeman, Aditya Rawal, Shilpika Bordoloi, Mallika Taneja, Saurabh Nayyar, Girish Sharma, Mahir Mohiuddin, Srinivas Basetti, Nikita Saraf, Suruchi Sharma and Fauzia Dastango, among many others
— Raag–Mad, a folk and classical music fusion directed by Sandeep Ratnu, will be presented for the first time
— Marking 100 years of legendary artist Guru Dutt, Dastaan-e-Guru Dutt will narrate his story in a unique dastangoi format

Jairangam 2025 – Detailed Schedule

(Daily: ‘Bheetar/Bahar’ exhibition at Surekh Art Gallery, designed by Suruchi Sharma)

18 December

12.00 PM – Play: Einstein, Director: Maksrand Deshpande
Venue: Krishnayan Auditorium (For School Children Only)

2.00 PM – Dialogue Session: Ajit Rai – Theatre, Cinema and Everything in Between
Speakers: Makrand Deshpande, Gulab Singh Tanwar, Dharmendra Nath Ojha, Rajkumar Rajak, Abhishek Goswami
Venue: Krishnayan Auditorium

4.00 PM – Play: The Girmit, Director: Samina Zehra
Venue: Rangayan

7.00 PM – Play: Einstein, Director: Makrand Deshpande
Venue: Krishnayan Auditorium (Open to All)

19 December

12.00 PM – Play: Majuli, Director: Shilpika Bordoloi
Venue: Krishnayan Auditorium

2.00 PM – Play: Garam Roti, Director: Durga Venkatesan
Venue: Srikriti Art Gallery

4.00 PM – Play: Dhai Akhar Prem Ke, Director: Ruchi Bhargav Narula
Venue: Rangayan

7.00 PM – Raag Mad – Folk and Classical Music Fusion
Director: Sandeep Ratnu
Venue: Madhyavarti

20 December

9.00 AM – Heritage Walk: Jaipur – The Seen, The Unseen

12.00 PM – Play: Do You Know This Song, Director: Mallika Taneja
Venue: Krishnayan Auditorium

2.00 PM – Musical Performance: Mary and Jenny
Venue: Srikriti Art Gallery

4.00 PM – Play: Cross Roads, Director: Riju Bajaj
Venue: Rangayan

7.00 PM – Dastangoi: Dastaan-e-Guru Dutt
Venue: Madhyavarti

21 December

9.00 AM – Heritage Walk: Jaipur – The Seen, The Unseen

12.00 PM – Play: Waiting for Naseer, Director: Srinivas Basetti
Venue: Krishnayan Auditorium

2.00 PM – Play: Nanga Kapda, Director: Priyakshi Agrawal
Venue: Outside Library

4.00 PM – Play: Siachen, Director: Makarand Deshpande
Venue: Rangayan

7.00 PM – Play: Golden Jubilee, Director: Saurabh Nayyar