Each year in November, the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay lights up Singapore’s artistic and cultural fabric with Kalaa Utsavam, the Indian Festival of Arts. What began in 2002 as a small cultural celebration has now become one of the most anticipated annual arts festivals in the city-state.
It is a space where Indian heritage, classical traditions, and modern voices come together on the same stage, drawing audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
The 24th edition of Kalaa Utsavam runs from 21 to 30 November 2025, presenting a mix of concerts, theatre, dance, spoken word, workshops, and family programmes. Bollywood legend Javed Akhtar will share anecdotes about cinema and the industry. Popular Indian comic Zakir Khan, fresh from his successful show at the iconic Madison Square Garden, will enthrall audience with a set named Papa Yaar.
Across ten days, Kalaa Utsavam 2025 will showcase both Singapore talent and international collaborations, with works ranging from intimate recitals to full-scale productions.
This year’s line-up features new commissions, co-productions, and invited works from India, Singapore, Canada, and beyond. From tabla-driven orchestral fusions and heartfelt storytelling to puppetry for children and Tamil rap concerts, Kalaa Utsavam 2025 promises something for everyone. Here is your complete day-by-day guide.
Friday, 21 November 2025
Samudra – An Ocean of Musical Traditions
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 1 hr 30 mins, no intermission
Ticket Prices: SGD 30, 40, 60, 80
Advisory: Assistive listening available
The festival opens with Samudra, a spectacular concert by Singapore ensemble SwaRhythm, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The title, which means “ocean” in Sanskrit, reflects the programme’s central theme — water as a source of life and connection.
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Led by artistic director and tabla virtuoso Nawaz Mirajkar, the show travels from the rivers of the Himalayas to the oceans of Southeast Asia, tracing spiritual, cultural, and musical journeys. Samudra brings together an unusual orchestra of Indian, Malay, Chinese, and Western musicians, including sitar, veena, erhu, accordion, Western strings, and jazz instruments. Dedric Wong conducts the ensemble, with additional compositions by Syafiqah ’Adha and Gu Wei.
The performance will also include live sand art projected on a large screen, alongside water percussion to highlight the theme. This is a co-production between Esplanade and SwaRhythm and marks one of the largest music productions at Kalaa Utsavam this year.
Mission Malligapoo (Day 1)
Venue: Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins, no intermission
Ticket Prices: SGD 28, 38, 48
Advisory: Performed in Tamil with English surtitles; assistive listening available
AGAM Theatre Lab presents Mission Malligapoo, a brand-new Tamil play rooted in Singapore’s history. Set in 1942 during the Japanese Occupation, the play mixes slapstick comedy with dark undercurrents. It follows a band of unlikely misfits who hatch a plan that quickly spirals out of control.
The play is co-directed by Subramanian Ganesh and Karthikeyan Somasundaram, with a script by Syed Ashratullah. It features a large cast and includes elaborate technical design with multimedia, original soundtracks, and dynamic lighting. The story looks back at Singapore’s past with humour while raising questions about courage, loyalty, and survival.
Saturday, 22 November 2025
Circle of Life (Day 1)
Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio
Times: 11 am & 2 pm
Runtime: 50 mins, no intermission
Ticket Price: SGD 28
Advisory: Recommended for ages 5–8; non-verbal performance; all children must be accompanied by an adult aged 16 and above; tickets required for all patrons, including infants-in-arms; assistive listening available
Created by Ranga Shankara’s AHA! Theatre for Children from Bengaluru, this non-verbal puppetry performance takes children and families through the journey of life. With puppets, movement, and music, the show represents stages of human growth — from infancy to old age — in a way that children can understand without words.
Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon – Javed Akhtar in Concert
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 2 hrs 20 mins including 20-min intermission
Ticket Prices: SGD 65, 85, 105, 125
VIP Meet & Greet: 170 (includes premium seat and post-show interaction)
Advisory: Performed in Hindi; assistive listening available
Padma Bhushan awardee Javed Akhtar takes centre stage in this evening of music and memories. Known for penning lyrics for films such as Silsila, 1942: A Love Story, Tezaab, and Kal Ho Na Ho, Akhtar shares behind-the-scenes stories of how these songs were created.
Supporting him are singers Meiyang Chang and Jahnvi Shrimankar, who will perform the beloved songs live. With its mix of anecdotes, humour, and timeless music, this concert is a unique chance for fans of Hindi cinema to see the living legend up close.
Mission Malligapoo (Day 2)
Venue: Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins, no intermission
Ticket Prices: SGD 28, 38, 48
Advisory: Performed in Tamil with English surtitles
Sunday, 23 November 2025
Circle of Life (Day 2)
Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio
Times: 11 am & 2 pm
Runtime: 50 mins, no intermission
Ticket Price: SGD 28
Monday, 24 November 2025
Kintsugi – Sampradaya Dance Creations (Canada)
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 1 hr 10 mins, no intermission
Ticket Prices: SGD 28, 38, 48
Advisory: Assistive listening available
Conceived by Lata Pada and co-choreographed with Suma Suresh, Kintsugi takes its name from the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. The dance piece draws on episodes from the Mahabharata, particularly stories of resilience and healing, and blends bharatanatyam, kathak, and contemporary movement.
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The production includes live music composed by Praveen D. Rao with vocals by Varijashree Venugopal and percussion by B.C. Manjunath. Performed by six trained dancers, it explores the human ability to mend after trauma, transforming cracks into strength.
Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Mone Rekho – Soumik Datta
Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 1 hr 15 mins, no intermission
Ticket Price: SGD 35
Advisory: Assistive listening available
British-Indian musician Soumik Datta brings his sarod to the Recital Studio for Mone Rekho (“remember”). The piece is inspired by Alzheimer’s and the fragility of memory. Soumik combines music, visuals, and personal narrative to create an intimate performance that resonates emotionally with audiences.
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Shikhandi – The Warrior Within (SIFAS Productions Ltd, Singapore)
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins, no intermission
Ticket Prices: SGD 28, 38, 48
Advisory: Performed in multiple languages with English surtitles; assistive listening available
This dance-theatre production reimagines Shikhandi, a central yet often misunderstood figure of the Mahabharata. Directed by Gauri Diwakar, the work blends kathak and bharatanatyam with live music and multimedia. It examines themes of gender, destiny, and identity while celebrating Shikhandi’s role as a warrior of resilience.
Thursday, 27 November 2025
Papa Yaar – Zakir Khan
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Time: 7 pm
Runtime: 2 hrs 30 mins, no intermission
Ticket Prices: SGD 60, 80, 110
Concession Price: SGD 50 (students, NSFs, seniors, PWDs)
Advisory: Hindi; age 18 and above; contains coarse language; assistive listening available
India’s most popular stand-up comedian Zakir Khan returns with a brand-new show, Papa Yaar. Known for his storytelling style, Zakir shares humorous anecdotes about fatherhood, relationships, and everyday life.
Friday, 28 November 2025
We Make Spaces Divine ft. Dey
Venue: Esplanade Annexe Studio
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 1 hr 20 mins, no intermission
Ticket Price: SGD 30
Advisory: Standing show; admission 13 and above; some coarse language; alcohol sold on site (18 and above)
Singaporean poet Pooja Nansi joins hands with musician Dey, guitarist Isuru Wijesoma, and DJ RAAJ in a performance that mixes spoken word with club energy. Based on Nansi’s poetry, the show blends music, rhythm, and text to explore love, belonging, and culture in the city.
Saturday, 29 November 2025
RNF Presents Rabbit & Friendz – Rabbit Mac
Venue: Esplanade Annexe Studio
Time: 3.30 pm
Runtime: 2 hrs, no intermission
Ticket Price: SGD 55 (concessions 45.65)
Advisory: Standing show; admission 12 and above; recommended 18 and above; bilingual Tamil/English; alcohol sold on site
Malaysian Tamil rap pioneer Rabbit Mac headlines this afternoon concert with fellow hip-hop and rap artists from Malaysia, Singapore, and India. Expect high-energy performances, rap battles, and community vibes.
Cosmic Dissolution – RUDRA with Resound Collective
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Time: 7.30 pm
Runtime: 2 hrs, no intermission
Ticket Prices: SGD 30, 50, 70, 90
Advisory: Performed in English and Sanskrit; assistive listening available
Singapore’s very own Vedic metal band RUDRA collaborates with Resound Collective’s 56-piece orchestra in a first-of-its-kind concert. Orchestrated by Chok Kerong and conducted by Ang Shao-wen, the show transforms RUDRA’s discography into symphonic arrangements. Expect roaring guitars meeting sweeping strings and chants against orchestral crescendos.
Sunday, 30 November 2025
Svara y Ritmo – A Carnatic-Latin Odyssey
Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio
Time: 5 pm
Runtime: 1 hr 15 mins, no intermission
Ticket Price: SGD 35
Advisory: Assistive listening available
Carnatic vocalist Varijashree Venugopal joins Project RA: The Vibes Collective in a musical conversation between Indian classical traditions and Latin jazz grooves. Vibraphonist Ramu Thiruyanam leads the ensemble, creating fresh improvisations across genres.
Pichwai Tote Bag Parent–Child Workshop
Venue: Esplanade White Room
Time: 11 am
Runtime: 1 hr 30 mins
Ticket Prices: 1 Adult + 1 Child: SGD 40; 2 Adults + 1 Child or 1 Adult + 2 Children: SGD 60
Advisory: Recommended for children 6–12; each group can have up to three participants; each group will design one tote bag
Families can explore the 400-year-old Rajasthani pichwai painting tradition with artist Shivali Mathur. Participants paint lotus motifs onto tote bags and take home a functional artwork.
Festival Workshops and Learning
- Creative Process Workshop (22 Nov, 10 am, Esplanade Rehearsal Studio, 2 hrs; SGD 50): Led by Lata Pada and Suma Suresh, for mid-career artists and emerging choreographers. Participants sit on the floor and explore ideation, dramaturgy, and collaboration.
- Functional Music Workshop (22 Nov, 1.30 pm, Esplanade Rehearsal Studio, 2 hrs; SGD 50): Led by Praveen D. Rao, Varijashree Venugopal, and B.C. Manjunath. Designed for dancers and composers, exploring how emotion and movement can translate into sound.
- Indian Martial Arts Parent–Child Workshop (23 Nov, 11 am, Esplanade Rehearsal Studio, 1 hr 30 mins; package pricing SGD 40 or 60): Led by Kalari Academy. Introduction to kalaripayattu and silambam, designed for children aged 6–12 with adult supervision.
Introduction to Spice-Mixing Workshop (29 Nov, 11 am, Esplanade White Room, 1 hr 30 mins; SGD 20): Led by Jeya Spices. Participants learn to mix traditional Indian spices and take home samples.
Free Programmes
In addition to ticketed events, Kalaa Utsavam will host free performances in Esplanade’s outdoor spaces. These include live music concerts, dance showcases, and storytelling sessions. Full listings will be announced closer to the festival dates.
