Cutting Chai Festival

Cutting Chai is an annual media festival associated with R. D. National College in Bandra, Mumbai. It is organised around student participation in creative and media-oriented competitions and showcases.

The festival brings together college teams for activities spanning journalism, advertising, film, photography, radio, performance, fashion and other forms of media expression.

• February — The festival is generally held during the month, with the programme spread across several days.
• Opening and closing days — The schedule varies by edition and may include competitions, showcases and a concluding programme.

Media learning — The festival gives students an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to practical competitions, productions and live events.

Creative exchange — Intercollegiate participation encourages students from different institutions to share ideas and approaches to media and performance.

Student expression — The festival provides a public setting for young creators to present work in areas such as journalism, film, advertising, photography and performance.

Cutting Chai began at R. D. National College in Mumbai in 2007 as a festival organised around the college's media students. Its name draws on Mumbai's distinctive cutting chai, a small serving of strong tea commonly associated with roadside tea stalls and informal social breaks.

Over time, the festival developed a broad programme of intercollegiate media and cultural competitions. It has included events such as investigative journalism, teleprompting, photography, advertising, film, dance, fashion and other creative formats. During the pandemic period, the festival also adapted to digital participation before returning to physical programming.

Students — College teams prepare entries for competitions in media, communication, performance and creative disciplines.

Organisers — Student organisers coordinate events, production, venues, judging and participant interaction as part of the festival programme.

Guests and judges — Media and entertainment professionals may participate as judges, speakers or performers, depending on the edition.

The festival typically begins with registration, introductory activities and participation by visiting college teams. Competitions and showcases then take place across media, performance and creative categories, with teams presenting their work before judges and audiences. The programme culminates in results, recognition of participants and a closing celebration.

Mumbai — The festival is rooted in Bandra and the student media culture of Mumbai, with participation from colleges across the city and surrounding areas.

Intercollegiate participation — Visiting institutions may bring teams for particular competitions, making the festival broader than a single-college classroom activity while remaining centred on its Mumbai campus setting.

• Intercollegiate media competitions
• Investigative journalism contests
• Teleprompter and communication challenges
• Photography and film activities
• Advertising and creative campaigns
• Performances and fashion showcases
• Student-led festival production

Cutting chai — The small serving of tea gives the festival its name and connects it with Mumbai's everyday street culture.

Camera and media equipment — These represent the festival's emphasis on film, photography, broadcasting and visual storytelling.

Microphone — A symbol of communication, presentation and performance across several festival activities.

College identity — Student teams and campus participation reflect the festival's intercollegiate character.

• Cutting Chai takes its name from Mumbai's popular half-serving of tea.
• The festival is hosted by R. D. National College in Bandra, Mumbai.
• Its programme has included media disciplines such as journalism, advertising, photography, film, radio and editing.
• Signature activities associated with the festival have included investigative journalism, teleprompting, Human Chess and Media Mosaic.
• The festival has featured participation from colleges beyond its host institution.
• The event has adapted its format over time, including a period of digital programming during the pandemic.