Prof. Dr. Avinash Kolhe reflects on IPTA’s 84th year celebrations, tracing its extraordinary legacy of political theatre, cultural resistance, music and cinema, while examining how the movement continues to inspire contemporary artists and audiences across India.
At a time when artistic expression is increasingly shaped by commercial pressures, ideological divisions and shrinking democratic spaces, the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) continues to stand as one of India’s most enduring cultural movements rooted in resistance, inclusivity and social consciousness.

Founded in 1943 during the freedom struggle, IPTA transformed theatre, music, poetry and cinema into instruments of public dialogue and political awakening. For over eight decades, it has nurtured generations of writers, actors, musicians and filmmakers who believed that art must remain connected to the lives and struggles of ordinary people. From anti-colonial performances and workers’ movements to contemporary conversations around identity, inequality and justice, IPTA’s legacy remains profoundly relevant.
As the organisation marks its 84th year with festivals, performances and tributes across the country, the celebrations become more than commemorations of history — they reaffirm the continuing power of collective cultural expression in shaping public thought, empathy and democratic engagement.

The Birth Of IPTA During Tumultuous Times
It was in March 1940 at Lahore that the Muslim League passed the resolution for Pakistan, popularly known as the Lahore Resolution, demanding a separate state for Muslims. After that, the communal atmosphere in the country was vitiated beyond repair.
Then came the Quit India Movement of 1942, followed by the Bengal Famine of 1943. These events forced P. C. Joshi, leader of the undivided CPI, to think of creating a cultural front to promote the ideas of communal harmony and brotherhood through art, literature and theatre. Thus was born the Indian People’s Theatre Movement (IPTA) on 23rd May 1943 at Marwari School in Mumbai.

IPTA’s Extraordinary Legacy

The founding members included stalwarts like K. A. Abbas, Dr. Bhabha, Ali Sardar Jafri, Romesh Thapar and many others. It is one of the oldest performing arts groups in the country and the only theatre movement present in 22 states of India with over 12,000 members. Indian cinema, performing arts like music and theatre, and now even television, have drawn many of their personalities from IPTA.
At a time when artistic expression is increasingly shaped by commercial pressures, ideological divisions and shrinking democratic spaces, IPTA continues to stand as one of India’s most enduring cultural movements rooted in resistance, inclusivity and social consciousness. Founded during the freedom struggle, IPTA transformed theatre, music, poetry and cinema into instruments of public dialogue and political awakening.

For over eight decades, it has nurtured generations of writers, actors, musicians and filmmakers who believed that art must remain connected to the lives and struggles of ordinary people. From anti-colonial performances and workers’ movements to contemporary conversations around identity, inequality and justice, IPTA’s legacy remains profoundly relevant. As the organisation marks its 84th year with festivals, performances and tributes across the country, the celebrations become more than commemorations of history — they reaffirm the continuing power of collective cultural expression in shaping public thought, empathy and democratic engagement.

Mumbai Hosts IPTA’s 84th Year Celebrations
Now the same IPTA is celebrating its 84th birth year with fanfare at Mumbai’s Mysore Association Hall. The celebration is spread over a week that began on 20th May and will conclude on the evening of 27th May 2026.
What is unique about this year’s birthday celebrations is the participation of many IPTA units spread across the country. IPTA units from Punjab, Delhi, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Indore and Nashik are part of the celebrations. These units are presenting plays in vernacular languages like Punjabi, Urdu, Odia, Hindustani, Tamil and Marathi.
Performances, Poetry And Masterclasses
To support this huge theatre festival, there will be several performances, one being Kaifi Aur Main starring Shabana Azmi and Kanwaljit Singh, in which songs and poetry will be rendered by IPTA’s senior member Jaswinder Singh. These shows will be staged at the Mukti Auditorium, Andheri West.

This year also features masterclasses by theatre veterans like Prasanna, National President of IPTA. Then there is the Directors’ Meet and Greet, in which directors like Interjeet Rupawali and Veda Rakesh will interact with audiences. On Monday, 25th May evening, special programmes will be organised to celebrate Foundation Day.

Celebrating Theatre Legends
Some plays are directed by junior IPTA members, while a play like Hum Parwane, written by the late Sagar Sarhadi, will be directed by IPTA veteran Ramesh Talwar. Personally, I am looking forward to two performances that will be staged on Monday evening. One is Balraj Sahni – Meri Filmi Aatmakatha, written by the legend himself. This has been adapted and directed by Nidhikant Pandey.
The second is Aanand Hi Aanand, translated into Hindi by him. It is written, directed and narrated by Sohaila Kapoor. Aanand Hi Aanand traces the journey of the Aanand brothers — Chetan, Vijay and Dev. A week of power-packed celebrations indeed.
Festival Diaries, Cultural Gatherings, Stories From The Festival, Celebrating Art, Festival Circuit, Live From The Festival, Creative Exchange, Art In Public Spaces, Festival Reflections,