Jammu, July 14, 2026: Rang Tarang-2026, a spectacular three-day mega festival celebrating music, dance and theatre, commenced today with great enthusiasm at the Mandapam Auditorium of IIM Jammu. The festival was inaugurated with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Director of IIM Jammu, Prof. B. S. Sahay, in the august presence of Padma Shri Balwant Thakur, Director of Natrang.
Organised as a vibrant confluence of the performing arts, Rang Tarang-2026 will continue till July 16, 2026, featuring 18 captivating presentations, including 12 theatre productions, three dance performances and three musical concerts. Conceived and curated by Padma Shri Balwant Thakur, the festival is being executed with the support of Natrang’s creative team led by Neeraj Kant (Theatre), Suraj Singh (Music) Pawan Verma/Mohd Yasin (Allied creative departments) and Sunny Mujju (Dance).
Addressing the gathering, Padma Shri Balwant Thakur elaborated on the vision behind introducing performing arts as an integral part of the learning experience for IIM students. He emphasised that management education must go beyond academics to nurture confidence, creativity and emotional intelligence. Highlighting the transformative potential of theatre, music and dance, he explained that the specially designed programme seeks to empower students with self-confidence, effective public speaking, communication skills, critical thinking and collaborative leadership—qualities essential for future managers and entrepreneurs.
Balwant Thakur expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, for providing Natrang with the opportunity to conceptualise and conduct this unique performing arts initiative. He appreciated the Director’s visionary leadership and unwavering support in integrating theatre, music and dance into the academic environment, stating that such initiatives not only enrich campus life but also play a vital role in nurturing well rounded, confident and socially conscious future leaders.
In his address, Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, appreciated the initiative and underlined the importance of integrating performing arts with management education. He observed that such creative engagements enrich students’ personalities, foster innovation, enhance leadership qualities and contribute significantly to their holistic development.
The inaugural session began on a spiritually uplifting note with a soulful rendition of Saraswati Vandana presented by a chorus of forty singers. The audience was then enthralled by a vibrant presentation of Raas Leela, depicting the enchanting and playful episodes from the divine love of Radha and Krishna through graceful choreography and expressive performances.
The opening day also witnessed the staging of four engaging plays ‘The Monkey’s Paw,” “Mughal Darbar Ka Raaz,” “Dukhi Ram Ki Katha,” and “Yeh Laash Kiski Hai.” The performances received an overwhelming response from students, faculty members and invited guests, reflecting the festival’s success in creating a lively and intellectually stimulating cultural environment.
With an exciting lineup of theatre, music and dance over the next two days, Rang Tarang-2026 promises to be a unique celebration of artistic excellence while reinforcing the role of performing arts in shaping confident, creative and socially aware future leaders.