"Arunachal is India", say artists as 14-day International Theatre Festival concludes

The 3rd edition of the International Theatre Festival—Arunachal Rang Mahotsav (ARM) 2025 concluded on a historic note, positioning Arunachal Pradesh prominently on the global cultural map. The 14-day festival, which featured participants from 10 countries and witnessed the presence of three foreign ambassadors, ended with the celebrated Manipuri play “Song of the Nymphs” by the Chorus Repertory Theatre—a tribute to legendary theatre maestro Ratan Thiyam.

 

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, the Chief Patron of ARM, graced the closing ceremony and lauded the extraordinary rise of the state’s theatre movement. He said the festival, despite being only three years old, had already reached the international stage—powered entirely by the passion and talent of young Arunachalee artists.

 

Mein welcomed distinguished dignitaries, including National Award–winning actor Seema Biswas, Writers Academy Trust Chairman V. V. Ramana Murthy, University of Calicut’s School of Drama and Fine Arts Director Prof. Avinash Pillai, and renowned theatre personality Prof. Anuradha Kapur. Their presence, he stated, enriched the festival’s third edition with unmatched artistic depth.

 

The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted the participation of acclaimed Indian film and theatre personalities such as Ila Arun, Shekhar Suman, Geetika Tyagi, Rakesh Bedi, and director K. K. Raina, whose involvement provided significant inspiration to emerging talents across the state. He extended appreciation to ARM Festival Director Riken Ngomle for championing the initiative and acknowledged young artists as the cultural ambassadors of Arunachal Rang Mahotsav.

 

Calling the overwhelming public response a sign of a “new chapter in Arunachal’s theatre movement,” Mein expressed optimism about future editions.

 

Festival Director Riken Ngomle, in his closing remarks, said that although the festival concluded, the journey of nurturing and elevating Arunachalee theatre would continue to strengthen each year.

 

Local theatre artist Dogin Randa, who performed in two plays, praised the state government for providing a vibrant platform for young talents. He stated that the international participation and global visibility of ARM sends a “powerful and unequivocal message to China” regarding Arunachal Pradesh’s unquestionable status as an integral part of India, countering Beijing’s repeated territorial claims.