Santacruz, Mumbai: Retake 2026, the 11th edition of the annual BMM festival at L. S. Raheja College, transformed the campus into a dynamic cultural arena on January 9 and 10. With its theme “Bambai Mosaic,” the fest sought to reflect Mumbai’s layered identity through cinema, performance, and student-led creative expression. Over two days, the college grounds evolved into a space that blended competition, collaboration, and cultural storytelling.

A Campus Immersed in Mumbai’s Cinematic Spirit

From the early hours of registration to the final announcements, Retake 2026 carried a distinctly cinematic mood. Students from more than 14 colleges across Mumbai and nearby regions arrived with film-inspired identities, drawing from popular movies, characters, and genres that have shaped the city’s pop culture landscape.

Corridors, classrooms, and open spaces echoed with chants, applause, and music as participants and audiences moved from one venue to another. Mascots representing different college contingents added to the visual spectacle, while banners and slogans reinforced the central idea of Mumbai as a city built on stories, contrasts, and constant motion.

Participation Beyond Competition

While Retake 2026 featured a full slate of competitive events, the fest functioned as more than a contest platform. Many students described the experience as an opportunity to interact with peers from different academic backgrounds and institutions, creating informal networks that extended beyond their own colleges.

Discussions around filmmaking, media careers, performance art, and digital storytelling took place both on and off stage. Between events, students exchanged ideas about projects, internships, and creative ambitions, reinforcing the role of college festivals as informal learning spaces within higher education.

Events That Tested Skill and Perspective

The event lineup was designed to address multiple dimensions of media and performance. Intellectual and concept-driven events such as panel discussions and the TVC Pitch challenged participants to think critically about communication, branding, and audience engagement. Teams were required to articulate ideas clearly, respond to questions, and demonstrate awareness of current media trends.

These sessions drew steady attendance, particularly from students pursuing mass media and communication studies, and highlighted the growing emphasis on idea-based evaluation in college festivals.

Cultural Performances Take Center Stage

Evenings at Retake 2026 were marked by cultural showcases that drew large crowds. Performances across drama, dance, fashion shows, rap, singing, and DJ sets became focal points of the fest, with each act reflecting hours of rehearsal and coordination.

Drama performances explored themes ranging from social change to urban identity, while dance crews blended classical elements with contemporary styles. The fashion show, one of the most attended segments, interpreted the theme “Bambai Mosaic” through costume, music, and choreography, offering visual narratives inspired by the city’s streets, cinema, and subcultures.

Rap and singing competitions brought forward original compositions as well as reinterpretations of popular tracks, with participants using music as a medium to express personal and social stories.

Managing Scale and Energy

Hosting students from multiple colleges brought logistical challenges, from scheduling events to managing venues and crowd movement. Organizers coordinated parallel activities across different spaces to ensure the program remained on track. Volunteers played a visible role throughout the two days, assisting participants, guiding audiences, and maintaining order during high-attendance events.

Despite the scale, the fest maintained a steady rhythm, allowing participants to move between intellectual sessions and performance-based events without major disruptions.

Results and Recognition

As Retake 2026 concluded, the focus shifted to results and acknowledgements. CC Talaash emerged as the overall winner, reflecting consistent performance across multiple events. CC Baazigar and CC Gully Boy secured the first and second runners-up positions respectively, marking a competitive finish to the fest.

Organizers noted that the points tally reflected not just wins, but sustained participation and teamwork across categories, underscoring the importance of versatility in intercollegiate festivals.

Industry Support and Collaboration

The fest was supported by brands including Dr. Rashel Beauty Elixirs, Mother Dairy, and Bonkers Corner. While sponsorship visibility was present across the venue, the emphasis remained on student participation rather than brand promotion. Organizers stated that such collaborations helped offset operational costs and enabled the inclusion of a broader range of events.

A Reflection of Student Culture in Mumbai

Retake 2026 concluded as a reflection of Mumbai’s student culture, where creativity, competition, and collaboration coexist. The theme “Bambai Mosaic” resonated through performances, discussions, and informal interactions, capturing the diversity and energy associated with the city.

As college festivals continue to evolve, events like Retake 2026 highlight their role in shaping communication skills, cultural awareness, and peer networks. For many participants, the fest offered not just trophies or applause, but experiences that extended beyond the two-day schedule, reinforcing the value of such platforms within academic life.

With its blend of media-focused discourse and large-scale cultural performance, Retake 2026 reaffirmed its place as a significant event in the intercollegiate calendar, setting expectations for future editions while closing this chapter on a note of collective achievement.