Music concerts, dance recitals, film fetes, theatre, street plays… There is always something happening in one of the art spaces that dot the length and breadth of the city. The heritage Kuthiramalika and Navaratri Mandapam host annual music festivals but almost all the other venues have programmes all through the year. Senate Hall, Karthika Thirunal Theatre, Co- Bank Auditorium and Museum Auditorium are some of the many active cultural spaces. New spaces have come up, some have been renovated and some are getting a makeover. MetroPlus checks out a few happening spaces that are more than auditoriums and halls.
Vyloppilly Samskriti Bhavan, Nalanda
Opened in 2001 as a multi-purpose cultural complex to commemorate poet Vyloppilly Sreedhara Menon, the verdant venue is located on around 2.06 acres. It hosts dance, music, poetry, traditional art forms, theatre, fine arts and literary events. The centre of attraction is the Koothambalam, an auditorium that resembles a traditional performance space with teak wood brackets, rafters and 32 traditional hanging bronze lamps. An open-air auditorium equipped with sound and light system is the favourite venue of music bands. Kalmandapam is for traditional and ritualistic art forms; a ‘nrithamandapam’ is named after late Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma. There are exhibitions galore at the art gallery. The padippura, a two-storied entrance, has a room on the first floor modelled after the room used by Vyloppilly. Few of his belongings are on display. Instruments used by late percussionist maestro Pallavur Appu Marar are also on display here.
Tagore Theatre
Tagore Centenary Hall a.k.a. Tagore Theatre, set in sylvan surroundings of nearly six acres, was reopened in 2015 after a renovation. It has one of the biggest stages in South India, with a performance area of 380 sq m. New screens with 2K projection, centrally-air-conditioned auditorium with top-notch acoustics, a high-definition sound system and comfy seats are in place. The second phase of the renovation promises to have a landscaped garden, cafeteria, a gallery dedicated to Tagore, a mini theatre, a building dedicated to performing arts and ample parking facility.
Nishagandhi Auditorium
This where the International Film Festival of Kerala has been having its gala inaugurals. Under the starry skies, celebrities and film buffs gather to pay homage to cinema. It is also the venue of the annual Nishagandhi dance and music festival of the Government of Kerala. The one-of-its kind permanent stage in the state is all set to shed its tag as an open-air venue. Construction is on for a butterfly-shaped permanent roofing. The auditorium is on the sprawling 18-acre Kanakakunnu Palace grounds. The heritage Kanakakkunnu Palace and premises recently got a facelift. Constructed in 1976 by the Kerala Agri-Horticultural Society and the Kerala Rose Society with the profit from the first mega flower show of 1974, the venue was named by the late ONV Kurup. Suryakanti ground, also on the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, is the venue for many fairs and exhibitions.
Thirumuttam, Bharat Bhavan
The open-air stage, flanked by trees, opened its doors on January 1, 2014, and is ideal for boutique performances. The centre is all set to open a new indoor auditorium, ‘Semmangudi Smriti,’ after musician Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer, who stayed in the building while he was Principal of the Swati Tirunal College of Music
Manaveeyam Veedhi
Every Sunday, the road that connects Museum-Vellayambalam Road to Althara Junction becomes a cultural corridor that hosts a melange of performances, right from street art to skits, music recitals, magic shows and film screenings. In addition to programmes organised by Manaveeyam Theruvorakoottam, a group of artistes and art lovers, various cultural organisations also turn up here to stage different kinds of shows.
Museum Bandstand
The 19th century bandstand in front of the Napier Museum, itself an architectural gem, is a unique performance space ensconced in the landscaped gardens around the Museum. This is where the police and military bands used to perform till the advent of radio.At present, one can watch mythical characters come alive in Koodiyattam, Nangiarkoothu and Chakyarkoothu performances held here.
Margi
The stage at Margi in a beautiful heritage setting, near Fort High School, hasn’t changed much since its inception in 1974. Doyens of Koodiyattam, Chakyarkoothu, Nangiarkoothu and Kathakali take centre stage here. They perform on a platform lit by a traditional attavilakku and halogen lamps.
