Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Holagundi Honoured as Best Theatre Director in Hyderabad
Dr Rammohan Holagundi has spent 37 years working in theatre.
He was recently honoured as Hyderabad’s Best Theatre Director.
He began by walking several kilometres to performances because his group had no transport money.
He joined an English theatre group in Hyderabad in 1989.
In 1994, he started Nishumbita with people from the University of Hyderabad.
The group uses theatre to encourage people and spread social awareness.
Holagundi now focuses especially on children’s theatre and subjects such as academic pressure.
His newest play, Shikandi, tells parts of the Mahabharata from several women’s viewpoints.
Suravaram Pratapa Reddy Telugu University honoured Dr Rammohan Holagundi with the Dr P. V. Ramana Memorial Award 2026.
The ceremony took place Tuesday at Dr Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Kalamandiram in Nampally.
Holagundi began theatre in Hyderabad in 1989 and founded Nishumbita in 1994.
Nishumbita has about 40 regular members and stages 23 to 24 performances annually.
His latest production, Shikandi, explores the Mahabharata through the perspectives of Amba, Draupadi, Kunti and Gandhari.
- Who
- Dr Rammohan Holagundi, a theatre director, was honoured by Suravaram Pratapa Reddy Telugu University.
- What
- He received the Dr P. V. Ramana Memorial Award 2026 and the title of Best Theatre Director.
- When
- The honour was presented on Tuesday, 37 years after he began theatre in 1989.
- Where
- Dr Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Kalamandiram in Nampally, Hyderabad.
- Why
- The university recognised his contribution to theatre and his long-term work as a director and theatre organiser.
- Honouree
- Dr Rammohan Holagundi
- Award
- Dr P. V. Ramana Memorial Award 2026
- Title conferred
- Best Theatre Director
- Theatre start
- 1989, with an English theatre group in Hyderabad
- Nishumbita founded
- 1994
- Nishumbita membership
- About 275 people move in and out of the group, with around 40 regular members
- Annual performances
- Approximately 23 to 24, including 10 to 12 in Telugu
- Latest production
- Shikandi, a 30-minute multi-character mono act in a physical-theatre format