Bharatendu Academy of Dramatic Arts or Bharatendu Natya Akademi is a theatre training institute in Lucknow, India. It is named after Bharatendu Harishchandra, father of Hindi theatre. It offers a two-year full-time diploma course in theatre training. It is an autonomous organisation[1][2] under the Ministry of Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
History
Bharatendu Natya Academy came into existence as a drama institute on 2 July 1975, by efforts of the theatre personality Raj Bisaria.
In 1975 its name was Bharatendu Natya Kendra and the class was running at the mini Rabindralay (near Lucknow Railway Station). At that time BNA did not have their own building; now it functions from the Bharatendu Bhawan in Gomti Nagar (Vikas Khand-1). Lucknow.
In 1981 the institute started providing a two-year full-time diploma course in theatre training. The institute today selects 20 candidates every year for its two-year intensive post-graduate diploma course with scholarships for the first 12 students. Raj Bisaria was the founder-director. Hindi writer Amritlal Nagar was the first nominated chairperson of the institute. Today Bharatendu Natya Academy has become the second of its kind in India after the National School of Drama, New Delhi.[citation needed] At the end of their course, the second-year students make a visit to the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune or Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata for the basic training for film and television. This is a kind of extension program is done with the financial support of Film Bandhu (a body under the Cultural Department of the U.P. Government).[citation needed]
