New Academy aims to nurture artistic excellence, preserve cultural heritage and create a national platform for emerging talent


THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

MUMBAI, JUNE 23, 2026

Reaffirming its longstanding commitment to India's cultural and creative landscape, the Aditya Birla Group on Monday unveiled the INT Aditya Birla Performing Arts Academy, ushering in a new era for the historic Indian National Theatre (INT). The initiative reimagines one of India's most respected cultural institutions as a vibrant national centre for artistic excellence, dedicated to nurturing talent, preserving heritage and fostering innovation across theatre, music and dance.

The Academy was inaugurated by Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of the Academy, in the presence of Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, Neerja Birla, Ananya Birla and Aryaman Vikram Birla.

The launch marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Indian National Theatre (INT), an organisation that has shaped generations of artists and audiences since the years preceding India's Independence.

The initiative reflects a defining characteristic of the Aditya Birla Group's history: the creation of institutions that become enduring developmental assets. Across generations, the Group has invested in nation-building through schools, universities, hospitals, research centres, cultural institutions and community platforms. The reimagining of INT extends that legacy, creating a space where India's artistic traditions can be preserved, celebrated and reinterpreted for future generations.

More than a performing arts venue, the Academy has been envisioned as a national centre for artistic excellence, nurturing talent across theatre, music and dance while fostering innovation and experimentation rooted in India's rich cultural heritage.

Speaking at the launch, Rajashree Birla said: "The INT Aditya Birla Performing Arts Academy is our tribute to India's extraordinary artistic heritage and to the countless individuals who have kept its traditions alive across generations. It embodies Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla’s belief that creativity, imagination and culture are essential pillars of a vibrant society. Our aspiration is to create an institution that honours our classical foundations, embraces contemporary expression and opens pathways for emerging talent. Above all, we hope it becomes a national platform where India's diverse cultural voices can converge, inspire one another and shape the future of the performing arts."

The Academy's Advisory Council brings together some of the most distinguished names in Indian performing arts, including Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Dr N. Rajam, Shankar Mahadevan, Ulhas Kashalkar, Aruna Sairam, Lalgudi GJR Krishnan, Louiz Banks, Bela Segal, U. Rajesh, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Rajit Kapur, Terence Lewis and Clint Valladares, many of whom attended the launch.

The evening celebrated the richness and diversity of India's artistic tapestry. Renowned poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, the Chief Guest, engaged in an insightful conversation with Cyrus Sahukar, sharing reflections from a life spent shaping India's cultural discourse and speaking candidly about resilience, creativity and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Acclaimed vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty delivered a moving musical tribute to four legendary voices — Noor Jehan, Shobha Gurtu, Kishori Amonkar and Begum Akhtar — weaving together tradition and contemporary interpretation in a performance that captured the Academy's larger vision.

The roots of INT stretch back to the 1940s, when India was in the midst of its freedom struggle. Guided by visionaries such as Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, the institution emerged from a belief that culture and creativity were integral to the making of a nation.

Over the decades, INT became a launchpad for some of India's most celebrated performers, including P. L. Deshpande, Dr Shriram Lagoo, Amrish Puri, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Smita Patil, Sanjeev Kumar, Dina Pathak, Bhakti Barve, Rohini Hattangadi, Ashok Saraf, Paresh Rawal and Swaroop Sampat.

Plans are also underway to establish a dedicated archival centre that will preserve rare musical recordings, performances and cinematic works, creating a valuable cultural repository for future generations.

As a not-for-profit initiative, the Academy's mission extends beyond artistic excellence. Through outreach, education and community engagement, it seeks to make the arts more accessible, particularly for underserved communities, enabling creativity to become a vehicle for confidence, opportunity and social inclusion.

With this inauguration, the Academy joins a long lineage of Aditya Birla institutions that strengthen society, enrich lives and embody the Group's enduring aspiration to be a Force for Good.