In the heart of Hyderabad’s fast-paced IT hub, a refreshing cultural wave is rising—driven not by full-time artistes, but by dedicated working professionals who have kept their love for theatre alive for over a decade. This passion finally took a formal shape on 6th December, Saturday, when Roopak Hyderabad was officially launched, marking a new chapter for Bengali theatre enthusiasts in the city.
Born from informal script readings and rehearsals that started in 2013, Roopak Hyderabad reflects a deep desire to preserve Bangla theatre for the next generation growing up outside Bengal. What began as unorganized gatherings has evolved into a committed cultural collective that blends heritage, community energy, and artistic integrity.
Their special Saturday launch event held on 6th December at Rangabhoomi Spaces featured two compelling Bengali plays, Pratham Partha and Bhushondir Mathe. The launch drew a diverse audience, including many Telugu students who not only attended but also performed as part of the cultural presentation. Their involvement brought a vibrant cross-cultural warmth to the evening, proving that the language of theatre speaks far beyond linguistic boundaries.
A Mission Shaped by Passion
“We started casual drama discussions in Hyderabad back in 2013,” recalls Shuddhasattwa Das, the driving force behind Roopak Hyderabad. “Everything was unorganized at first—just a group of amateur drama lovers trying to keep the language alive. Since we live outside Bengal, our aim was simply to reach our next generation through theatre. And honestly, there is no better medium than drama.”
For years, their performances continued in a modest, unstructured format. But in 2025, the team decided to create a more formal identity for their growing aspirations. That vision gave birth to Roopak Hyderabad.
“We felt it was time for proper branding and an organized platform. That’s how Roopak Hyderabad started,” says Shuddhasattwa. “Our only aim is to bring meaningful theatre to people—plays of different genres, stories that resonate, and performances that celebrate our culture.”
A Collective Built on Dedication
Contrary to perception, stage shows are nothing new to them.
“We’ve been doing stage plays since 2013,” he clarifies. “My wife is a dancer, but I personally focus on drama. Many people love acting but don’t get the time. We work with all those who make the effort to keep this passion alive.”
Roopak Hyderabad is currently a non-profit initiative.
“It’s not registered yet,” he explains. “But the spirit is purely non-profit. Our goals are clear—good stage shows, taking theatre to the next generation, and conducting workshops for children.”
The Language Question
Though the group is rooted in Bengali, their audience has been surprisingly diverse.
“We concentrated on Bengali for a long time,” Shuddhasattwa shares. “Going forward, we may do bilingual or Hindi plays. Telugu is tough for us because we don’t speak it well.
But when we promoted our recent play, many Telugu people who had lived in Kolkata or Kharagpur showed interest. Even those who knew just a bit of Bangla wanted to watch. That was a wonderful sign.”
Hyderabad, he believes, is a city that embraces multiple languages—a fertile ground for theatre to flourish in its many forms.
Workshops and the Road Ahead
Roopak Hyderabad’s vision extends beyond performances.
“We want to start workshops so that children can learn acting,” Shuddhasattwa adds. “Not many are formally trained here. We want to ensure this art form doesn’t fade away. It’s not about income generation it’s about enjoyment, exposure, and keeping theatre alive.”
A Cultural Heartbeat in the IT City
Roopak Hyderabad stands today as a testament to what passion can build art flourishing without commercial pressure, creativity thriving beyond professional boundaries, and a community coming together to celebrate language, culture, and performance.
Their story is not just about plays.
It is about identity, preservation, and the joy of storytelling
