Quick answer: Rabindra Sadan is a major theatre and cultural centre on Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose (AJC Bose) Road in south Kolkata, named after Rabindranath Tagore. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid its foundation stone on 5 August 1961, Tagore’s birth centenary year, and the hall was completed in October 1967. It hosts Bengali theatre, music and dance, and is a venue for the Kolkata International Film Festival. There is no general entry fee: tickets depend on the show, and the hall is next to Rabindra Sadan metro station.
Rabindra Sadan at a glance
| Detail | What we verified (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | AJC Bose Road, near the junction with Cathedral Road, south Kolkata |
| Foundation stone | 5 August 1961, by Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Completed | October 1967 |
| Renovated | 1999 and 2016, with further work reported in 2022 |
| Entry | By ticket or pass for each show; prices vary |
| Nearest metro | Rabindra Sadan station, Blue Line |
An earlier version of this article said Rabindra Sadan is open from 10 am to 9 pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 10 am to 2 pm on Sundays. We could not find these hours on an official source. Show times and box-office hours depend on the programme, so check the listing for the event you want to see.
History of Rabindra Sadan
Rabindra Sadan was planned to mark the birth centenary of Rabindranath Tagore in 1961. Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone on 5 August 1961, and construction was completed in October 1967. The hall has been renovated several times, including in 1999 and 2016.
Correction: an earlier version of this article said Nehru “inaugurated” the hall and that the whole cultural complex, including Nandan and the Bangla Akademi, was set up in 1967. Nehru laid the foundation stone in 1961 (he died in 1964, before the hall opened), and the other buildings in the complex came later: Sisir Mancha in 1978, Nandan in 1985 and the Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi in 1986.
Today Rabindra Sadan is one of the main stages for Bengali theatre, music and dance in Kolkata. Plays, concerts, recitals and festivals are held here through the year, and it is one of the venues of the Kolkata International Film Festival.
The Rabindra Sadan–Nandan cultural complex
Rabindra Sadan is the centre of a cluster of cultural institutions on and around AJC Bose Road and Cathedral Road. Together they make this corner of the city the hub of Bengali arts.
Nandan
Nandan is West Bengal’s film and cultural centre and the main centre of the Kolkata International Film Festival. Chief Minister Jyoti Basu laid its foundation stone in 1980, and the filmmaker Satyajit Ray inaugurated it on 2 September 1985. Ray also designed Nandan’s logo. The festival’s opening ceremony was held here until 2010 and moved to Netaji Indoor Stadium in 2011.
Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi
The Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi, founded on 20 May 1986, is the official body for the Bengali language in West Bengal. It works on spelling and grammar reform, dictionaries and terminology, and promotes Bengali language and culture. It has no power to enforce its rules, but its standards are widely accepted by the governments of West Bengal and Tripura and by publishers and institutions such as Oxford University Press and the Ramakrishna Mission.
Sisir Mancha
Sisir Mancha, next to the Rabindra Sadan–Nandan complex at 1/1 AJC Bose Road, opened in 1978. It is used mainly for theatre and is named after the celebrated Bengali actor and dramatist Sisir Kumar Bhaduri.
Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshashala and nearby galleries
The Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshashala, an exhibition gallery named after the artist Gaganendranath Tagore, and the Nazrul Academy are also part of the complex. The Academy of Fine Arts, with its galleries and theatre, is close by on Cathedral Road.
How to reach Rabindra Sadan
- By metro: Rabindra Sadan station on the Blue Line (the north–south line) is right beside the hall.
- By rail: Howrah and Sealdah are the main railway stations. From either, take the metro or a taxi.
- By air: from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, take a taxi or app cab.
- By road: buses and taxis run along AJC Bose Road; the hall is close to the Victoria Memorial and the Maidan.
Tips for visiting
- Check the programme in local newspapers, event-listing sites or at the box office; many shows sell out on weekends.
- Kolkata International Film Festival screenings, usually held in winter, need passes or tickets issued by the festival.
- Arrive early for evening shows, as traffic on AJC Bose Road is heavy at rush hour.
Places to visit nearby
The Victoria Memorial and the open Maidan are a short walk away. ISKCON’s Radha Govinda temple on Albert Road is a short drive east. To explore more places named after Tagore, visit Rabindra Sarobar in south Kolkata or plan a trip to Santiniketan, his university town in Birbhum.
Frequently asked questions
Who laid the foundation stone of Rabindra Sadan?
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on 5 August 1961, in Tagore’s birth centenary year.
When did Rabindra Sadan open?
Construction was completed in October 1967.
Is there an entry fee for Rabindra Sadan?
There is no general entry fee. You need a ticket or pass for the show you are attending, and prices vary by event.
Which metro station is nearest to Rabindra Sadan?
Rabindra Sadan station on the Blue Line of the Kolkata Metro.
Is Nandan part of Rabindra Sadan?
Nandan is a separate film centre in the same cultural complex, opened in 1985. Together with Sisir Mancha and the Bangla Akademi, it forms the Rabindra Sadan–Nandan complex.
Details checked in October 2026 against published histories of Rabindra Sadan, Nandan, Sisir Mancha and the Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi. Show times and ticket prices vary by event, so check the listing before you go.
