BNA plans to increase PG seats intake capacity by 10
Lucknow: In a significant move to boost Hindi theatre, the Bhartendu Natya Akademi (BNA) hosted a meeting on Friday with principal secretary of tourism and culture, Mukesh Meshram, and prominent theatre and film personalities to discuss expansion plans and development initiatives.
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The meeting saw participation from distinguished artists, including Padma Shri awardee Vaman Kendre, National Film Award winner Dolly Ahluwalia, veteran actress Himani Shivpuri, and acclaimed actors Rajiv Verma and Rakesh Srivastava, among others.
Highlighting BNA's growing prominence, Rakesh Srivastava noted that the institution now attracts students from 22 states and has achieved a status comparable to the National School of Drama (NSD).
Padma Shri Vaman Kendre emphasized the importance of rural theatre, citing Maharashtra's success story in strengthening folk art through regional theatre initiatives.
The artists lauded the state govt's efforts in providing opportunities to performers through cultural programmes at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir and Maha Kumbh, which have gained both national and international recognition.
In a major announcement, principal secretary Meshram revealed plans to increase BNA's intake capacity by 10 seats in PG.
"We will also introduce drama training in state-run schools and appoint dedicated teachers for drama and fine arts," said Meshram.
The initiative is expected to give a significant boost to the performing arts sector in Uttar Pradesh while creating new opportunities for aspiring artists and theatre professionals.
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