London, 5th August 2025 : Asian Star Radio, London, brought a rare treat to its listeners today with an exclusive feature on the celebrated theatre personality Padma Shri Balwant Thakur. Aired during primetime across London and Birmingham, the special program delved deep into Thakur’s vibrant creative journey, offering listeners an inspiring glimpse into the life and legacy of one of India’s foremost cultural ambassadors.
Hosted by the dynamic and engaging anchor Payal, the hour long show turned into a masterclass in theatre, culture, and international collaboration. Touching upon a wide range of subjects from cross-cultural storytelling to the global future of Indian theatre, the broadcast proved to be both informative and enriching for a diverse audience.
Currently on a creative mission in the UK, Balwant Thakur spoke passionately about his ongoing tour and the series of events he is undertaking to expand the global footprint of Natrang, his Jammu-based theatre organization. Highlighting his recent visit to Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, Thakur shared his profound experience of engaging with resident actors who performed excerpts from Romeo and Juliet especially for him. Inspired by the experience, he revealed his ambitious plan to develop a new cross-cultural theatre production based on the folk tale Kunju Chanchlo from the Jammu region. Drawing parallels with Shakespearean themes of love and tragedy, Thakur envisions this production as a powerful Indo-English narrative that will resonate with audiences across both cultures.
Expanding on his creative pursuits, Thakur also spoke of his research into the internationally acclaimed musical The Lion King. With admiration for its scale, spectacle, and storytelling, he expressed his desire to conceptualize an even grander production based on Indian mythology. “Our stories are deeply layered, emotionally rich, and culturally vibrant,” he noted. “The only thing we lack is professional showcasing access to world class production facilities, cutting-edge technologies, and large scale spectacle-making. With the right support, Indian narratives can not only match but surpass global benchmarks in engagement and universal appeal.”
Reflecting on his previous visit to the UK, Thakur reminisced about his acclaimed performance Celebrating Diversity, a visually stunning, dance-based narrative that was staged before an audience of over 50,000 at Trafalgar Square. The production, which portrayed the multifaceted cultural identity of Jammu and Kashmir, received overwhelming applause and was later presented at the British Parliament, further amplifying its cultural impact on international audiences.
Earlier in his international engagements, Thakur had also represented India at an international seminar hosted by the prestigious University of Oxford. There, he presented key findings from his Ford Foundation USA supported research project titled In Search of a New Theatre Language. His work explored innovative approaches to theatre-making that bridge traditional Indian performance arts with contemporary global aesthetics.
Through decades of tireless work, Balwant Thakur has emerged as a powerful force in Indian and global theatre, championing the richness of indigenous stories while forging pathways for international collaboration. His ongoing efforts in the UK underscore not just his personal vision, but also the limitless potential of Indian performing arts on the world stage.