Each November, the Esplanade’s Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts transforms Singapore’s waterfront into a vibrant stage for Indian arts and culture. As the festival returns for its 24th edition from 21 – 30 November 2025, audiences can once again expect a space where tradition meets innovation, where stories are shared, and where communities come together. This year’s programme celebrates both heritage and experimentation, showcasing bold collaborations, new Singapore creations, and performances that cross boundaries of genre and geography, all in the spirit of discovery and connection that has defined Kalaa Utsavam for over two decades.

On the theatre front, look out for the ever exciting Agam Theatre Lab as they present Mission Malligapoo. Set in 1942 Singapore, in a world where the Japanese occupation casts a long, oppressive shadow, a band of misfits unites for a clandestine undertaking: Mission Malligapoo. What starts as a slapstick rebellion soon spirals into a hilariously dark journey of self-discovery and existential musings. As each character’s quirky past collides, they devise a plan that could either ignite a spark of hope or set off a chain reaction of chaos that might just take down the entire city. Expect unexpected betrayals, spirited bickering, and moments that are both gut-wrenching and gut-busting.

Local writer and former Singapore Writers Festival director Pooja Nansi stages a live version of her poetry collection We Make Spaces Divine. We Make Spaces Divine ft. Dey, is a live performance that draws on the worlds that raised us: Rajinikanth’s cigarette-flick swagger alongside Amitabh’s baritone thunder, A. R. Rahman’s hooks that leap across languages, the soundtracks of Sunday afternoon films, the injustice of headlines made at Komala Vilas, and the pulse of Mustafa Centre past midnight. This collaboration brings together poets Pooja Nansi and Shivram Gopinath, guitarist Isuru Wijesoma, and DJ Raaj. We Make Spaces Divine ft. Dey unfolds as spoken word meets club night—a celebration of the cinematic, complicated, messy, and glorious textures of growing up in the cities we love. It is an invitation to listen, dance, heal and reimagine belonging together.

Step into a world of laughter, love, and nostalgia in Indian comedian Zakir Khan’s brand-new show, Papa Yaar. Through anecdotes packed with wit, emotion, and his signature poetic flair, Zakir brings to life the most relatable yet unspoken aspects of every Indian son’s relationship with his father. Papa Yaar celebrates fatherhood and the universal experiences that tie us all together. And this time, it’s an invitation to share the laughter and love with your own father. So bring your Papa along and let Zakir’s stories remind you of all the reasons why your bond is special. It’s a show both of you will cherish forever.

On the dance front, Canada’s Sampradaya Dance Creations presents Kintsugi, a striking new production inspired by the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold. Conceived by Founder Lata Pada and co-choreographed with Artistic Director Suma Suresh, this Indian classical-contemporary work transforms themes of fracture and repair into a moving expression of strength, beauty, and identity. Kintsugi revisits poignant episodes from the Mahabharata that are both timely and timeless, speaking to collective perseverance and the enduring power of transformation.

In SIFAS Productions Ltd’s Shikhandi, watch as the titular character in from the Mahabharata, embodies nonconformity, resilience and determination. Born a princess and raised as a warrior, her transformation from female to male reflects the complexities of gender, destiny and selfhood. This powerful kathak presentation reimagines the enigmatic icon as both a legend and a living metaphor. Combining the dynamic footwork, nuanced expressions and rich narrative textures of kathak with the sculptural precision, rhythmic complexity and emotive depth of bharatanatyam, the production charts Shikhandi’s journey from pain to power and from silence to expression. Masculine and feminine, divine and human—dichotomies blur and intertwine, challenging binaries and revealing deeper truths.

This year’s festival also features big music stars, such as Bollywood powerhouse Javed Akhtar in a night filled with captivating melodies and unforgettable tales as he shares the secrets behind his hit songs. Go on an emotional voyage and revisit swoon-worthy scenes through the theme songs of timeless classics like 1942: A Love Story (1994), Tezaab (1988), and Kal Ho Na Ho (2003), featuring Meiyang Chang and Jahnvi Shrimankar on vocals. Hear the multi-award winning poet-screenwriter-lyricist discuss the creative roots behind these iconic numbers, as he regales you with more funny and heart-warming anecdotes about his process, behind-the-scenes moments, and even AR Rahman.

Kalaa Utsavam also features a medley of fusion music events, whether bringing together metal and Vedic music, Carnatic and Latin music, and more. Jive along to tunes from Project RA: The Vibes Collective’s Svara y Ritmo: A Carnatic-Latin Odyssey, rock out to Vedic metal band RUDRA’s Cosmic Dissolution, chill out to multi-ethnic music with SwaRhythm Singapore’s Samudra – An Ocean of Musical Traditions, and the first-ever RABBIT & FRIENDZ show, where Rabbit Mac reunites with some of the biggest rap and hip hop names in the region. 

As Kalaa Utsavam 2025 unfolds, it continues to honour its mission to celebrate the excellence of Indian arts and culture while fostering a stronger youth presence and developing the next generation of Singapore artists. From classical dance and contemporary theatre to fusion music and family-friendly storytelling, the festival once again invites audiences to experience the richness and evolution of Indian arts. For longtime fans and first-time visitors alike, this is once again an invitation to discover, to be inspired, and to celebrate the evolving spirit of Indian arts in Singapore.

Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts 2025 plays from 21st to 30th November 2025 at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Full lineup available here