Mumbai: The Indian National Theatre (INT), an organisation that has shaped generations of artistes and audiences since the years preceding India’s Independence, got a renewed lease of life on Tuesday with the launch of the INT Aditya Birla Performing Arts Academy in Mumbai.
This gave a new shape and renewed purpose to one of India’s most storied cultural institutions.
The Academy was inaugurated by its chairperson Rajashree Birla, in the presence of Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman, Aditya Birla Group, Neerja Birla, Ananya Birla and Aryaman Vikram Birla.
Across generations, the Group has invested in nation-building through schools, universities, hospitals, research centres, cultural institutions and community platforms. The reimagining of INT extends that legacy, creating a space where India’s artistic traditions can be preserved, celebrated and reinterpreted for future generations.
The Academy has been envisioned as a national centre for artistic excellence, nurturing talent across theatre, music and dance while fostering innovation and experimentation, rooted in India’s rich cultural heritage.
“The INT Aditya Birla Performing Arts Academy is our tribute to India’s extraordinary artistic heritage and to the countless individuals who have kept its traditions alive across generations. It embodies Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla’s belief that creativity, imagination and culture are essential pillars of a vibrant society. Our aspiration is to create an institution that honours our classical foundations, embraces contemporary expression and opens pathways for emerging talent. Above all, we hope it becomes a national platform where India’s diverse cultural voices can converge, inspire one another and shape the future of the performing arts,” Rajashree Birla said at the launch.
The Academy’s advisory council includes Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Dr N Rajam, Shankar Mahadevan, Ulhas Kashalkar, Aruna Sairam, Lalgudi GJR Krishnan, Louiz Banks, Bela Segal, U Rajesh, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Rajit Kapur, Terence Lewis and Clint Valladares, many of whom attended the launch.
Renowned poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, the chief guest, engaged in an insightful conversation with Cyrus Sahukar, sharing reflections from a life spent shaping India’s cultural discourse and speaking candidly about resilience, creativity and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Acclaimed vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty delivered a moving musical tribute to four legendary voices, Noor Jehan, Shobha Gurtu, Kishori Amonkar and Begum Akhtar, weaving together tradition and contemporary interpretation in a performance that captured the Academy’s larger vision.
The roots of INT stretch back to the 1940s, when India was in the midst of its freedom struggle. Guided by visionaries such as Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, the institution emerged from a belief that culture and creativity were integral to the making of a nation.
Over the decades, INT became a launchpad for some of India’s most celebrated performers, including P L Deshpande, Dr Shriram Lagoo, Amrish Puri, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Smita Patil, Sanjeev Kumar, Dina Pathak, Bhakti Barve, Rohini Hattangadi, Ashok Saraf, Paresh Rawal and Swaroop Sampat.
Plans are also underway to establish a dedicated archival centre that will preserve rare musical recordings, performances and cinematic works, creating a valuable cultural repository for future generations.
As a not-for-profit initiative, the Academy’s mission extends beyond artistic excellence. Through outreach, education and community engagement, it seeks to make the arts more accessible, particularly for underserved communities, enabling creativity to become a vehicle for confidence, opportunity and social inclusion.
