Taking the stage after months of rehearsals, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts’ students celebrate their winning run at the 2026 Purushottam Karandak.
The Purushottam Karandak win for the college comes 13 years after their last presentation, Ullagaddi, written and directed by Shivraj Waichal, brought home the Karandak. Because a friend persuades them or because they are willing to help backstage, some arrive with prior experience, while others join. If one person makes a mistake, it is not just that person’s mistake; the whole team takes responsibility,” says Shivkumar Ghodeswar, a second-year BFA Painting student who won Best Actor for his role as Amusha in Lajalu . Swanandi Bhartal, a third-year BFA Applied Arts student who directed Lajalu and won Best Director and the Keshavrao Date Award for Acting, believes the connection between performers eventually becomes visible to the audience.
What matters is your bond, and that shows on stage,” she says. “This family that has formed is more than just a team. People have arguments, but everyone understands each other. Everyone covers for one another’s mistakes. College theatre often draws students who may not have considered themselves performers. Ghodeswar, for instance, had never been interested in theatre and initially sent classmates to join the Purushottam team. He eventually came along, expecting to take up whatever work was assigned to him, including backstage duties, only to end up playing Amusha and winning the Best Actor trophy at Purushottam Karandak. A college play is rarely the work of its actors alone. Students build sets, handle backstage responsibilities, work on music and juggle the production alongside coursework and other college commitments. Adhade recalls teammates putting aside assignments and painting work for rehearsals. One continued backstage work despite a hairline fracture, while another worked on the day of the first show after getting three stitches on his hand. That shared responsibility is central to how students experience theatre. “How great an actor or actress you are doesn’t matter.
