Marathi theatre artistes in Kalyan have raised serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of the city's only civic-run auditorium, Atre Rang Mandir. Alleging a lack of basic facilities, they claim that poor infrastructure is affecting performances and driving away reputable artistes.
Incidents During Performances
According to the artistes, during a play on Saturday, rats were seen running around the auditorium, and the power went off six times. Shradha Hande, an artiste, said, "Not only did these repeatedly disrupt the show, but we had to also apologise to the audience for the inconvenience." She further alleged that the staff was missing during the event. "There were also some sparks near some wires. Our artistes acted promptly and averted a fire," she added.
Artistes Demand Immediate Action
A group of theatre artistes released a video highlighting the difficulties and appealed to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to improve the theatre's condition. They emphasized that Kalyan has a rich cultural and historical legacy and was once a preferred destination for renowned theatre personalities. However, due to recurring inconvenience and deteriorating infrastructure, many prominent artistes are now reluctant to perform in Kalyan. Visitors, too, avoid coming for shows and prefer theatres in Thane and Mumbai.
Rahul Pawar, director of production house Advait Creation, said, "KDMC charges the highest fees for shows compared to Mumbai and Thane civic bodies, but the facilities provided are subpar. The air-conditioners don't work properly and even leak. The bathrooms are not clean."
Political Intervention
The artistes met Umesh Borgaonkar, Shiv Sena (UBT) group leader in KDMC, on Monday and demanded immediate intervention to upgrade facilities, improve maintenance, and ensure a better environment for performers and audiences. Borgaonkar acknowledged that KDMC had spent crores on the theatre's beautification in 2022 and said, "I will ask it to look into the issue seriously."
Manager's Response
Manik Shinde, manager of Atre Rang Mandir, acknowledged "some inconveniences" but disputed several allegations. He claimed that audience members often leave food inside the auditorium after shows, which attracts rats. Regarding the repeated power disruptions on Saturday, he attributed them to stormy weather conditions in the city.
Meanwhile, Dombivli's civic-run auditorium, Savitri Bai Phule Theatre, has been shut for the last few months for repairs.
