The Constitution of India is the most powerful book of the country and also the least read. In 2024, Mumbai-based artist and entrepreneur Darshan Mahajan asked himself, “What if the Constitution of India was not something you read but something you experienced?” What if it was presented as a Marathi play and performed in the cities and towns of the state? “The vision was to do a work that had never been done before,” says Mahajan.
Within a year, a work, Rashtragranth, was ready. Mahajan and a team of 50 artists have been reworking it into “a gripping two-act production that takes you on a powerful journey through India’s historical and modern relationship with its Constitution.” There are 51 protagonists and the set design, which recreates 15 historical places, is by Sandesh Bendre, an award-winning set designer.
Since 2025, Rashtragranth has been touring as free pilot performances across nine districts of Maharashtra to receive audience feedback, including Bhimrao Yashwant Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. This Republic Day, the grand scale work will have its public premiere in Bombay. will travel to Pune on February 9, with urban actor Mubin Tamboli playing Ambedkar.
There are 51 protagonists and the set design, which recreates 15 historical places, is by Sandesh Bendre, an award-winning set designer.
The play has been created by Artistic Humans, a Mumbai startup founded by Mahajan to produce plays, organize festivals, design artistic and learning-based workshops, among others, to empower the unorganized sector of artistic talent, and Culturally by ShubhLab, another Mumbai startup focused on sustainable livelihoods and empowerment.
Acclaimed playwrights Prasad Thorve and Abhiram Bhadkamkar have scripted the story; Kumar Sohoni, an alumnus of the National School of Drama (NSD) and winner of the Sangeet Natak Akademi award, has directed the play. The original music is by Milind Joshi and the costumes are by Chaitrali Dongre.
As the audience settles into the room and the lights go down, the play begins with three college students, two of whom are trying to find an assignment on the Constitution. They get help from one of their friends, Hetal, who is a scholar of the Constitution. Hetal symbolizes the Constitution because he knows everything.
The two-hour play transforms constitutional ideas from “a written text into a vibrant cultural experience, inviting people of all ages, especially young people, to engage with the principles that unite India and empower its citizens.” Various important developments such as labor laws, women’s rights, Dalit rights, Adivasi rights and child labor are depicted on the stage.
One section deals with the Shah Bano Caseanother with agrarian reforms. “We are trying to show how, after its implementation, the Constitution has impacted various segments of society. One woman says, ‘The Constitution is in place, but how is it impacting our lives?’ One of the characters responds: ‘Women have the same right to vote, the real power is in the hands of women,’” says Mahajan.
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Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis He has written to Mahajan about the play. “The efforts undertaken by Artistic Humans to bring to the stage vital issues such as constitutional rights and duties, social justice, gender equality, democracy, caste and citizens’ rights in a compelling and impactful manner are truly commendable. This initiative deserves sincere recognition, and our heartfelt congratulations are extended to the organization and all the artists involved for their significant contribution,” the CM wrote.
Prathmesh Navalkar, founder of Culturally by ShubhLab, who has followed the play as it was performed in Solapur and elsewhere. “Our vision is to create a sustainable ecosystem for artists and technicians to bring this project to life. We are integrating workshops and artistic experiences around the Constitution and popular arts forms, enabling assistive technology for seniors and people with disabilities, and reducing ticket fees to industry standards,” he said.
Mahajan adds that the people creating the work at different levels represent the wide diversity of India. “The game has been created by people from all types of castes, creeds, regions, tribes and religions. That makes me very proud,” he says.