Bhubaneswar: Odisha is all set to have an outreach centre of the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) in Bhubaneswar. A proposal in this regard has been approved by the state government.
To begin with, the centre will operate temporarily at the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre in the city, according to Minister for Odia Language, Literature, and Culture, Suryabanshi Suraj.
Describing the move as a landmark development for the state, the Minister said the NSD centre would offer immense opportunities for students aspiring to build careers in acting and theatre.
He said this centre will play a significant role in promoting Odia theatre on both national and global platforms, elevating our regional narratives and traditional drama forms.
The development comes following talks between Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
Highlighting the importance of Odia theatre, Suraj said Odisha’s rich heritage of history, literature, art, and culture has been preserved and celebrated through drama, narrating the state’s stories for generations. Opening of the NSD outreach centre will contribute immensely towards the growth of Odia theatre productions, he said.
The centre would provide high-quality training, enabling students to represent Odisha on both national and international stages through theatre, he said.
Set up in Delhi in 1959, NSD was made an autonomous body under India’s Ministry of Culture in 1975. It has trained several prominent artists, including noted Odia actors like Bijay Mohanty, Ajit Das, and Surya Mohanty.