Aditya Birla Group Reimagines Historic INT, Launches INT Aditya Birla Performing Arts Academy

Hyderabad: The Aditya Birla Group today unveiled the INT Aditya Birla Performing Arts Academy, giving a new shape and renewed purpose to one of India’s most storied cultural institutions. 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 Academy was inaugurated by Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of the Academy, in the presence of Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, Mrs. Neerja Birla, Ms. Ananya Birla, and Mr. Aryaman Vikram Birla.

Expanding a Legacy of Nation-Building
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, Mrs. 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.”

A Distinguished Advisory Council and Opening Night Highlights
The Academy’s Advisory Council brings together some of the most distinguished names in the Indian performing arts, many of whom attended the launch, 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, Clint Valladares

The opening evening celebrated the deep 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. During the session, he shared reflections from a life spent shaping India’s cultural discourse and spoke candidly about resilience, creativity, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Following the discussion, acclaimed vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty delivered a moving musical tribute to four legendary voices: Noor Jehan, Shobha Gurtu, Kishori Amonkar, and Begum Akhtar. Her showcase seamlessly wove together tradition and contemporary interpretation in a performance that perfectly captured the Academy’s larger vision.

Preservation, Archives, and Social Inclusion
The historic 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 originally emerged from the profound belief that culture and creativity were integral to the making of a nation. Over the subsequent decades, INT became a critical 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.

To preserve this rich heritage, plans are underway to establish a dedicated archival centre that will preserve rare musical recordings, historical performances, and milestone cinematic works, creating a valuable cultural repository for future generations.

As a completely not-for-profit initiative, the Academy’s mission extends far beyond artistic excellence. Through focused outreach, education, and active 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 officially 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.