MUMBAI: With art constantly evolving, the National Centre for Performing Arts will also be presenting a fresh selection of new and unique content in various forms in the month of May. It will commence with the third edition of its annual theatre festival titled ‘Ananda – Hindi Natya Utsav 2013’ to be held from 3-5 May.

The annual fest will present three premiering plays namely ‘Quli–Dilon Ka Shahzaada’, ‘Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan’ and ‘Mitro Marjani’.

Presented by Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation, ‘Quli–Dilon Ka Shahzaada’ is a play from Hyderabad based on the poet-prince Quli Qutub Shah and his danseuse Bhagmati. It will feature live qawwalis with nazms and verses written by Prince Quli Qutub Shah himself in Urdu-Persian with music composed by Kaarthik Illaiyaraja.

NCPA head – programming (theatre and film) Deepa Gahlot said, “The festival is a platform for original works. The idea is to be a catalyst and start something new for our audiences in keeping with the NCPA’s role as a prime theatre destination in the city.”

Nadira Babbar’s (Ekjute Productions) ‘Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan’ is about a bunch of young people who come to Mumbai to try their fortune in films and therefore go through a wide range of experiences and emotions.

The third play ‘Mitro Marjani’ is a fiery dramatization of Krishna Sobti’s classic novel, directed by Devendra Ankur forms the fine trilogy of plays.

Apart from the plays, the festival will also feature ‘Chauraha’ sessions with the makers of the play at the end of each performance.