15 May,2009 09:28 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
41-yr-old Balgandharv Rangmandir to undergo Rs 25 lakh-makeover to attract more artistes
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is spending Rs 25 lakh to renovate the Balgandharv Rangmandir at Kothrud in a bid to persuade more artistes to choose this 41-year-old legendary theatre as the venue for their performances. While a new rehearsal hall is ready, the renovation work will begin in the artistes' rooms and the VIP room after a formal inauguration.
Amar Pardeshi, the general manager, told MiD DAY, "Noted stage actor Prashant Damle will formally inaugurate the renovation work on May 16. We expect the work to be completed in two months."
According to Pardeshi, "The 30-bed lodge for artistes in the Balgandharv complex had become outdated.
Therefore, we budgeted nearly Rs 10 lakh for new furniture and to install a centralised airconditioning system."
He added that though artistes staying overnight had to pay only Rs 30 per night, plans are on to revise the rates once the theatre comes to an agreement with artistes and the association of drama-producing companies.
The Patil effect
The need to upgrade the VIP room came into the forefront after President Pratibha Patil's recent visit to Pune.
"Seating so many VIPs in a 150 sq feet room posed a problem. That is when we decided to upgrade the existing VIP room", said Pardeshi. "The VIP room will now span 600 square feet and will possess new furniture," he added. Speaking about the rehearsal room, he said, "Earlier this room was functioned more as an attic to dump things. But now theatre enthusiasts have already started using this room for their rehearsals."
Role model
"Like Prithvi theatre in Mumbai, we want to make Balgandharv Rangamandir a haven for stage artistes," said Pardeshi. The theatre, named after veteran Sangeet Natak actor Balgandharv, was constructed by incorporating some ideas contributed by noted writer and humorist Pu La Deshpande. Pune-based builder, B G Shirke planned and constructed it in 1968. "As per Pu La's vision, this theatre is aesthetically the best and the biggest in Maharashtra," he pointed out.
"Known asu00a0 'the Balgandharv model', it became so popular in the early '70s, that many municipal corporations adapted it and constructed their own theatres. Nashik, Aurangabad, Thane were among those municipal bodies who consulted with PMC in this context. Artistes such as Dinesh Thakur, Naseeruddin Shah and Makarand Deshpande have performed here," he said.
