Theatre activities have come to a halt at Kalagrama auditorium situated on Jnana Bharathi campus at Mallathahalli, after equipment there was destroyed in a fire on Thursday. It may be a while before they can resume.
In recent times, Kalagrama auditorium was a good option for the theatre community after Ravindra Kalakshetra. The presence of the Regional Centre of National School of Drama and Kuvempu Bhasha Bharati Authority on the same campus had made Kalagrama an important cultural hub of late.
“After the fire incident, NSD was forced to cancel three major productions,” said Director NSD C. Basavalingaiah. According to him, Kalagrama auditorium has become centre stage for amateur theatre groups who could not get to perform in Ravindra Kalakshetra.
According to sources in the Department of Kannada and Culture (DoK&C), under which auditorium comes, security personnel spotted the smoke emanating from the complex. By the time fire services were summoned, the blaze had consumed most part of the sound room in the first floor. Electrical equipment were burnt. Joint Director DoK&C Mallikarjuna Swamy, attribute short-circuit for the fire accident.
Some allege there was negligence in maintenance. The DoK&C has 13 electricians to manage auditoriums, including Ravindra Kalakshetra, Nayana Auditorium and Kalagrama cultural complex. Their services are outsourced. “Electricians would come whenever there is activity in the complex on rotation basis. The problem was noticed during the staging of Malegalalli Madumagalu and communicated to the authorities concerned. But no action was taken,” said a theatre activist.
Balawant Rao Patil, in-charge director DoK&C, said that a meeting with PWD authorities was held after the incident and it was decided that the auditorium will be refurbished “on a war footing”.
