"We've always done skits, but this year we had lots of stuff between acts," Tambar says. "One comment I heard was that no one was bored at any time during the show--every second was exciting."

In the show's ongoing humorous skit, for example, a detective was investigating the murder of one of the cast members. Although the skit's inclusion was initially surprising to many in the audience, several audience members said they thoroughly enjoyed as a counterpoint to the other more "serious" acts.

Vasan says the new format still produced a show just as long as previous years--three hours on some nights, although closer to four Saturday night--but that did not seem as long for the audience.

"We had this hypothesis that if we changed the show [by eliminating narration], it would change the feel of the show for the audience," Vasan says. "This year we wanted the audience to be engaged, with no lull in the action."

Tambar says he thinks this year's show put past productions to shame.

"The show was amazing, the best I've ever seen of Ghungroo," he says. "The tech was better, things ran more smoothly and the set was the most beautiful of any cultural show."

And ticket sales went a long way to prove Tambar's words.