J. Lokesh, president of the Karnataka Nataka Academy, said on Wednesday that the State government should form a Ranga Mandira Construction Authority for the construction of rang mandirs (theatres) in the districts.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Lokesh said that this would ensure that the rang mandirs could be built with a simple design and at a low cost of about ₹ 50 lakh each.
These rang mandirs could be constructed with hollow blocks and low cost construction material with a seating capacity of 300.
The government had entrusted work to build rang mandirs to the Public Works Department and the cost of construction was high. They were being built to accommodate 1,000 persons.
Normally, such a large number of people rarely turned up to watch plays. Moreover, there were delays in the construction of rang mandirs in many places, he said.
Mr. Lokesh said that the academy was giving importance to documentation of plays and theatre groups. It was also promoting research work in the theatre. Already, 55 persons had been given fellowships for this purpose, he said.
He said that the academy would be presenting its honorary award and annual awards for 2018-19 at the Town Hall here on February 12.
The honorary award would be presented to P. Gangadharaswami, while the annual awards would be presented to 25 theatre persons.
Bargur Ramachandrappa, writer, would inaugurate the function. M.S. Satyu, film and theatre director, would give away the awards. Three books, Udupi Zilla Rangamahiti by Padma Kodagu, Avibhijita Dharwad Zilla Rangamahiti by Basavaraj Bengeri and Rahimanavva Kalmani by Ganesh Amingadh, would be released, Mr. Lokesh said.
Basuma Kodagu, member of the academy, was present.
