While music and art lovers are hoping to see Kala Academy in all its glamour soon, the authorities are yet not sure how long the repairs will take after its next closure in March.
Kala Academy in Panjim, is a one stop venue for music, theatre and performing arts has its indoor auditorium, Dinanath Mangueshkar Kala Mandir functioning. It has been repaired and open for events since December. After months of closure, only the indoor auditorium is considered fit enough structurally for the audience. With major repairs still in the pipeline for the venue, Kala Academy has been awaiting the help of Chennai based experts.
According to earlier reports, two structural audit were carried out by the Goa Engineering College (GEC) and another audit by Mumbai-based consultancy Gem Engserv Pvt Ltd, and both suggested strengthening the structure. The repair plan will be prepared with the help of Chennai based experts. This plan, according to earlier reports, is expected to be ready by mid January.
The matter is currently in court and the next hearing is scheduled on January 27, 2020.
Art & Culture Minister Govind Gaude says, “The indoor auditorium, Dinanath Mangueshkar Kala Mandir, has been opened after being rectified for IFFI 2019. However, it will be open till Feberaurt 28 or March 3, 2020. The open air auditorium requires major repairs and besides indoor auditorium, no other section of Kala Academy is open. The matter is in the High Court.
Says Minister Gaude, “The reason we had to open the indoor auditorium was the demand from music lovers and tiatr and natak lovers who were missing out on the events. As we have repaired the auditorium and made all statutory checks but the open air auditorium, the utility services rooms, and the art gallery will be closed. The only exhibition that took place in the gallery was the Goa State Art Exhibition at the end of December 2019,”
Pratap Gaonkar, Theatre Manager, Kala Academy lists the events that have taken place at the venue since November 2019. “The indoor auditorium is an important venue for Panjim especially for the International Film Festival of India. Post the festival, Kala Academy hosted the 53rd All Goa State Level Mando Festival, a musical programme ‘Rangdevata Swarmanch’ conceptualised by Padma Shri Pt Prasad Sawkar, the Marathi Drama Competition ‘A’ Group and soon the One Act Play Competition at High School Level and the 45th Tiatr ‘A’ Group Competition. The bookings for the indoor auditorium are open till February as there will be closure and maintenance post that,” says Pratap.
Gurudas P Pilarnekar, Director of Art and Culture explains how the main auditorium is safe enough for the audience. “The main auditorium was repaired prior to the International Film Festival of India as it required minor repairs”
Then comes a specific and important announcement by the Director. “After March, the auditorium will be closed for repair and maintenance before the monsoons. A team from Charles Correa Foundation will be visiting the facility and they will read the two structural audit reports with corresponding photographs of the venue. The experts from Chennai were expected earlier in the month but they were busy with their schedule and will be coming to Kala Academy soon where they will present the repair plan.”
Post March though, Goa’s best loved cultural venue’s indefinite closure till all repairs are conducted, will mean that major productions cannot be planned there and will have to either held somewhere else or held back till the venue is ready.
