Opera “Mahabharata”: A BRICS Culture Media Forum Initiative

In an era marked by global transformation and civilizational dialogue, the opera “Mahabharata” has emerged as a landmark cultural initiative of the BRICS Culture Media Forum (BCMF), envisioned as a bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary artistic expression, and between Eastern and Western civilizations.

The philosophical foundation of the project is rooted in the concept that a true dialogue of civilizations is, above all, a dialogue of values. These values are inseparable from universal ethical principles, known in ancient Indian philosophy as Dharma. This profound understanding of shared civilizational missions between India and Russia inspired Dr. Sergei Dvorianov, Vice President of the BRICS Culture Media Forum, religious philosopher, and cultural strategist, to conceptualize the opera Mahabharata as a unique cultural and spiritual endeavor.

In December 2025, Russian national leader Vladimir Putin paid a historic visit to India, during which several strategic dimensions of Russian–Indian cooperation were discussed. According to Dr. Sergei Dvorianov, cooperation between the two nations—across economic, military-technical, humanitarian, religious, and cultural domains—is anchored in a deep awareness of their shared historical and civilizational responsibilities as two ancient cultures.

The opera Mahabharata is conceived as a Russian–Indian cultural project aimed at fostering deeper understanding of the values, worldview, and way of life of the ancient Indo-Aryan civilization, while simultaneously strengthening cultural and aesthetic dialogue between East and West.

Before any public announcement, the concept of the opera Mahabharata was formally presented to the BRICS Culture Media Forum, an organization dedicated to uniting artists and cultural leaders from across the world. BCMF approved the concept and initiated a structured process to identify both renowned and emerging composers from India and Russia. Several composers were shortlisted and given timelines to create original symphonic compositions. The evaluation process remains ongoing, and BCMF is awaiting final submissions, after which the selected work will move into the next phase of production.

The first public announcement of the opera Mahabharata was made in April 2025 in Dubai, at the iconic Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, by Dr. Jaan Nissar Lone, Global President of the BRICS Culture Media Forum and a distinguished Indian composer, musician, and Bollywood producer. The announcement marked a significant milestone, positioning the project as a flagship cultural initiative within the BRICS framework.

Following this announcement, a BCMF delegation was invited by the Government of the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation. During the visit, BCMF officially announced the UMMA Awards (Ubiquitous Movies and Music Awards) and held detailed discussions on the Mahabharata Opera project.

The meeting in Kaliningrad was co-ordinated by Mr. Aleksandr Kalkuta, and the BCMF delegation was accompanied by an aspiring Russian composer, Mr. Igor Evard, who participated in the presentation and discussions related to the opera Mahabharata. The visit included a high-level meeting with Governor Alexei Besprozvanikh, during which the concept of engaging the finest musicians from Russia and India was deliberated. The Governor received the initiative with notable interest and appreciation, recognizing its cultural and diplomatic significance.

On January 20, 2026, the roadmap for the implementation of the opera Mahabharata was formally presented to His Excellency Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of India. Dr. Jaan Nissar Lone briefed the Minister on the progress of the project and emphasized that leading composers from both India and Russia have been invited to participate.

He further highlighted that the opera will gain global distinction through the integration of Artificial Intelligence in the creation of musical opera roles transforming the project into not only a dialogue between East and West, but also a pioneering dialogue between Humanity and Artificial Intelligence.

Dr. Sergei Dvorianov, the author of the concept, along with Dr. Jaan Nissar Lone, conveyed to the Hon’ble Minister that all historical, cultural, and geopolitical conditions are now aligned for the practical realization of this ambitious BCMF initiative. According to them, the opera Mahabharata represents a breakthrough in public diplomacy, interstate cultural relations, and a profound spiritual contribution of the Bharat civilization toward global peace and mutual understanding.

“The creation of the opera Mahabharata is a messianic project. The finest composers and librettists of our two fraternal nations Russia and India can and should participate in it. This collaboration itself will become a unique achievement, nurturing a spirit of cooperation, shared creativity, and mutual enrichment,”
— Dr. Sergei Dvorianov

His Excellency Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highly praised the initiative of the BRICS Culture Media Forum and expressed his willingness to personally meet with the project’s creative initiative group in New Delhi, marking a significant step forward in the realization of this historic cultural endeavor.

The opera Mahabharata now stands poised to become a defining cultural landmark of the BRICS era—uniting civilizations, generations, and technologies through music, philosophy, and shared human values.