Roshan Abbas Brings Indradhanush to Dubai This November

The acclaimed Indian storyteller presents an intimate 90-minute evening of personal narratives, humour and reflection at Sima Performing Arts.

Roshan Abbas, one of India’s most celebrated media personalities and storytellers, arrives in Dubai this November for Indradhanush: A Pitara of Stories, an evening that promises to transport audiences through the defining chapters of his remarkable life. Over ninety minutes, Abbas crafts an intimate portrait of his journey, weaving together unexpected challenges, treasured encounters and the formative experiences that have shaped both his personal character and his distinguished career. This is storytelling as a refined art form: a masterclass in the power of lived experience and the universal truths that emerge when a gifted narrator shares the chapters that have mattered most.

Abbas brings to the stage a unique authority born from decades immersed in India’s media landscape. His work in radio and television has earned him recognition as one of the country’s most perceptive observers of culture and society, and his ventures as co founder of Kommune and creator of Spoken Fest have positioned him as a thought leader in the revival of oral narrative traditions. Indradhanush represents the culmination of these sensibilities: a carefully curated collection of personal reflections that explores what Abbas describes as the different colours of life. From moments of triumph and joy to periods of struggle and hard won wisdom, the evening examines the full spectrum of human experience with candour, grace and an undeniable gift for finding profound meaning in the everyday.

The title itself carries significance. Indradhanush is the Sanskrit word for rainbow, and the subtitle, A Pitara of Stories, invokes the image of a treasure box: the idea of a collection of precious, carefully preserved narratives. Together, these layers of meaning suggest an evening not merely of entertainment but of introspection and connection. Abbas’s renowned ability to blend humour with emotional depth, to move seamlessly from laughter to genuine poignancy, creates an experience that engages both mind and heart. His anecdotes are built on observation, generosity of spirit and a profound understanding of what makes us fundamentally human.

The Art of Contemporary Storytelling

In an era of curated digital content and fleeting attention spans, Abbas represents something increasingly rare: a master of the sustained narrative, the carefully constructed arc, the moment when a room full of strangers becomes unified in recognition and empathy. Spoken Fest, which he created, has become a defining platform for contemporary storytellers across India, championing the belief that the spoken word, delivered live and unmediated, possesses a unique power to move and transform. Indradhanush distils this philosophy into its most personal form, with Abbas himself at the centre of the narrative web.

The Venue: Sima Performing Arts

The performance takes place at Sima Performing Arts on Alserkal Avenue, a venue renowned for championing intimate, intelligent performance and for creating spaces where artists and audiences connect with rare authenticity. Alserkal Avenue itself has evolved into one of Dubai’s most significant cultural districts, a destination that attracts serious patrons of the arts and stands as a testament to the emirate’s commitment to cultural depth and artistic excellence beyond conventional tourism offerings.

When and Where

Indradhanush takes place on Saturday, 14 November 2026 at Sima Performing Arts, Alserkal Avenue. The evening runs for ninety minutes and offers audiences an experience that rewards full attention and emotional openness.

Tickets and Admission

Admission is by ticket, priced from AED 195. Tickets are available to purchase online, allowing those interested to secure their place for this distinctive evening of storytelling and reflection.

Why It Matters for Dubai

Dubai’s cultural landscape continues to mature and deepen, increasingly defined not merely by scale and spectacle but by the calibre of artists it attracts and the sophisticated audiences it hosts. Events such as Indradhanush represent this evolution: a celebrated Indian media personality choosing to present a deeply personal, intimate work in the emirate speaks to Dubai’s growing recognition as a destination for serious artists and discerning cultural consumers. Abbas brings with him the weight of his Indian cultural authority and the respect of audiences across South Asia; his presence here enriches Dubai’s position as a crossroads of regional artistic exchange and dialogue.

Indradhanush stands as an invitation to an evening of genuine human connection, to be reminded of the power of stories told live, in real time, by someone who has lived them fully and reflects upon them with both humour and wisdom.