A Tribute to THE LEGEND
The Flagship Festival
The annual Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival held in Hyderabad every year pays tribute to theatre legend late Qadir Ali Baig saheb. Now in its twentieth edition, the Festival features the who’s who of world theatre. One of the four most important theatre assemblies in the country, it is the largest theatre assembly in the subcontinent and is led by Padma Shri Mohammad Ali Baig.
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The much-acclaimed multi-lingual festival features some of the best plays from across the country and overseas.
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Witness moving performances by some of the most eminent performers names in the industry.
About
"I am deeply delighted to be part of this remarkable occasion. For two glorious decades, the Foundation has stood as a shining beacon of artistic excellence, nurturing Hyderabad’s cultural soul through the magic of theatre, heritage, and storytelling. As we mark this significant milestone, we also proudly celebrate the Foundation’s proud tradition of honoring Hyderabad’s cherished heritage. The Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival itself has become an institution, a majestic bridge connecting India’s illustrious past with its dynamic artistic present. This festival has transformed Hyderabad into a global stage of performing arts, a symbol of inclusiveness, creativity, and cultural pride. It is truly heartening to see this Foundation harmonize traditional storytelling with modern expression, thereby carrying Telangana’s rich culture to global audiences."
- H.E Jishnu Dev Varma
Honourable Governor of Telangana
Message from the Honourable Governor of Telangana
About
"It gives me immense pleasure to support 20th edition of prestigious Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival that is the flagship theatre event of the state of Telangana. For the past two decades it has enriched our states rich culture and boosted tourism and I am sure this momentous edition which features world-renowned writers, artistes and stage-crafts men from across the world and various Indian states will further enhance the state's commitment to promoting both traditional and modern art forms. Our honourable Chief Minister's vision of Telangana Rising will aptly be fulfilled. I wish Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation all the success and welcome the visiting artistes and eminent dignitaries."
Shri Jupally Krishna Rao
Hon’ble Minister Prohibition & Excise; Tourism & Culture and Archaeology Government of Telangana
Message from the Honourable Minister of Telangana
"I am delighted that the prestigious Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival is opening with a film that I have headlined. Let me congratulate the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival for completing 20 years of glorious theatre from all around the world. It’s a son’s tribute to his legendary father and I commend Padmasri Mohammad Ali Baig for his inspiring effort. As we all know, it is not easy to carry on a legacy for so long keeping it alive."
- Sharmila Tagore
Veteran Acrtess
QADIR ALI BAIG THEATRE FESTIVAL 2025
Hyderabad’s and India’s iconic theatre event held from November 7th
In Association with Telangana Tourism and GHMC
7th to 9th November 2025 | Radisson Blu Plaza (Banjara Hills)
14th November 2025 | State Art Gallery (Madhapur, Jubilee Hills)
15th & 16th November 2025 | Shilparamam
27th to 30th November 2025 | Taramati Baradari Indoor Auditorium
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Now in its twentieth edition, one of India’s foremost theatre festival, the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival returns with an extraordinary lineup of performances, screenings, and master classes that celebrate the magic of theatre and performing arts.
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Curated by theatre and screen actor Padmasri Mohammad Ali Baig, the festival stands as a tribute to his father, theatre legend Qadir Ali Baig, and continues to be Hyderabad’s signature cultural event, bringing together acclaimed performers, filmmakers, and theatre exponents from across India and the world.
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This year’s edition offers a vibrant mix of films, stage plays, and workshops, exploring themes of art, identity, love, and the human condition - across languages and forms, from classical theatre to dance theatre and contemporary storytelling.​
The festival opens with powerful film screenings such as OutHouse, exploring the emotional realities of ageing, and That Thing Called the Actor by Mita Vasisht, delving into the soul of performance. A series of master classes follow, led by acclaimed artists like Mita Vasisht, Dr. Mohan Agashe, and Vani Ganapathy, covering acting, children’s theatre, and dance theatre.
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The theatre segment features an eclectic mix - from existential drama (Unchayi, adapted from Jean-Paul Sartre), social satire and folklore (Chandaa Bedni), and literary adaptation (Dorra, based on Don Quixote), to cross-cultural contemporary works such as Didn’t Know That About You from Norway, Runaway Brides exploring multilingual Indian narratives, the evocative Lockdown Liaisons by Shobhaa De and Lillete Dubey, and Makarand Deshpande’s gripping Siachen, set against the icy frontiers of human endurance.
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Join the Experience
& GET UPDATES ON SPECIAL EVENTS
How to Book Tickets
Tickets are available online from www.bookmyshow.com.
For any assistance related to bookings, please call +91+9391336181
Registration for Workshops and Masterclasses
Enrollments for Workshops and Masterclasses:
theatrefestival@baigtheatrefoundation.com.
For any assistance, please call +91+9391336181
The Foundation
Reviving Quality Theatre - A Tribute to a Doyen
The period of vacuum and lull in Hyderabad’s theatre after Mirza Qadir Ali Baig’s demise was to be filled. In 2005, on the occasion of the 20th death anniversary of late Qadir Ali Baig saheb, the Ministry of I&PR, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad’s arts and literary fraternity decided to start and name a theatre foundation in his memory as a tribute to the theatre icon. His wife, Begum Razia Baig was invited to Chair the Foundation and his son, advertising whiz Mohammad Ali Baig was chosen to spearhead the city’s revival movement. Thus was formed the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation.
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With highly eminent theatre practitioners and performing artistes from different disciplines on its board like M.S. Sathyu, Javed Akhtar, Prof. Ram Gopal Bajaj, Vani Ganapathy, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Kadir Zaman, and others, the Foundation was set up to revive theatre in the city. One might say forming the Foundation is an attempt at a déjà vu of the kind of theatre that Qadir Ali Baig saheb had achieved in presenting.
Mohammad Ali Baig
The Torchbearer
Theatre Revivalist - Playwright - Actor - Director
His grandfather’s world record in polo in England, while playing with the Nizam’s team, remains unparalleled in the game’s history. His father’s theatre movement in Hyderabad is of course, legendary. His brother’s work in avant-garde theatre is pioneering.
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Mohammad Ali Baig, from this illustrious lineage, is said to have turned a new page in the history of theatre in Hyderabad. His theatre revival movement for Hyderabad is a model shared by theatre companies overseas, prompting the national media to term him ‘Master of Revival’, ‘The New Age Theatre Revivalist’, ‘Hyderabad’s face of world class theatre’ and ‘Global Face of Hyderabad Theatre’.
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•Recipient of the Padmashri in 2014
•Award for Global Excellence in Theatre in Canada and USA in 2014 and 2016
•French Honour in Paris in 2010
•Retrospectives in Turkey and UK in 2015 ...Read More...
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