The Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir at Kala Academy, once the crown jewel of Goa’s cultural landscape, now stands as a tragic monument to bureaucratic apathy and blatant mismanagement. What was envisioned as a world-class performance venue, renovated at a staggering cost of over Rs 50 crore, has turned into a symbol of broken promises and systemic rot.
The recent chaos during the performance of the acclaimed Marathi play ‘Purush’ has thrown this failure into stark relief. With audiences from across Goa seated in anticipation, a major lighting malfunction disrupted the show, halting it for nearly half-an-hour. Actor Sharad Ponkshe, visibly disturbed, had to publicly apologise from the stage. But the true outburst came later, when Ponkshe openly criticised the government, echoing the frustration long felt by Goa’s artist community. His remarks sparked a wave of outrage, not just locally, but nationally; an embarrassment for a State that prides itself on its cultural heritage.
This isn’t a one-off incident. The Kala Academy, after being closed for more than two years for renovations, continues to crumble from within. The sound system, despite crores being spent, remains unusable for professional performances. Lighting, as painfully evident during ‘Purush’, is unreliable. There are water leakages, stage defects, and infrastructure failures at every corner. So dire is the situation that organisers are forced to rent external equipment just to stage basic productions.
Artistes and technicians have been raising red flags for months. Cultural groups like ‘Kala Rakhan Maand’ protested. The issue reached the Goa Legislative Assembly. In response, the government formed a task force led by veteran theatre artist Vijay Kenkare, and later, even three technical experts; Sheetal Talpade, Roger Drago, and Rajan Bhise were appointed to assess and recommend repairs. Yet, very little has changed.
Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude has now acknowledged the gravity of the situation. Following the ‘Purush’ debacle, he ordered an inquiry and demanded a detailed report from the Kala Academy’s member secretary within two days. Gaude was candid in stating that the Public Works Department (PWD) is primarily responsible for these failures. While his response is appreciated, it has come far too late for comfort.
The government’s sluggishness is baffling, especially considering multiple committees including the PWD and an engineering college have already submitted reports highlighting these deficiencies. Why, then, is action still pending? What more does the government need to be convinced of what the entire artistes’ community already knows?
The tragedy here isn’t just structural; it’s emotional. Kala Academy is not just a building. It is the soul of Goa’s artistic expression. Generations of talent have bloomed under its roof. The artists aren’t seeking political mileage. They are pleading for dignity for a functional space where creativity can flourish without being sabotaged by technical failures and institutional
negligence.
One cannot help but ask; how can a Rs 50 crore renovation result in a venue that cannot even host a basic theatre production without glitches? The irony is stinging. What was meant to preserve and elevate Goa’s cultural identity is now actively undermining it.
Let there be no more excuses. The government must act with urgency. The task force’s findings, the expert recommendations, and the audit reports; all point to a single conclusion: the Kala Academy needs immediate and professional restoration. A full technical audit must be conducted. Till the repairs are complete, organisers should be transparently informed of the ongoing issues. The audience should never again have to endure what happened during ‘Purush’.
More importantly, the government must learn to listen. Artistes are not adversaries. They are stakeholders. Their insights must be valued, not dismissed as political noise. Minister Gaude’s recent response suggests a glimmer of accountability. But apologies and inquiries mean nothing without swift and visible
action.
The longer this shameful state of disrepair continues, the deeper the cultural wounds will grow. If this government fails to restore Kala Academy to its rightful stature, it will not only lose the trust of Goa’s artistes but will also be remembered for letting one of the State’s most cherished institutions fall into ruin.