Artistes oppose bid to privatise Kolhapur’s Palace Theatre

Artistes associated with the Sangeetsurya Keshavrao Bhosale Natyagruha, popularly known as the Palace Theatre, staged a protest on Tuesday to oppose the proposal to privatise the historic building in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district.

The artistes demanded that the theatre remain under the control of the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC). The civic body had passed a resolution on July 20 to hand over the building’s management to a private company.

“I have grown watching plays here. Many artistes started their career here as this place gave space for experimental theatre. With privatisation, it will all be gone. People doing experimental theatre will not get slots as the new manager will look to make profits,” said Prasad Jamdagni, an actor and organiser of musical shows.

The theatre, considered a centre of art and cultural heritage, was built in 1915 under the initiative of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, who ruled the princely state of Kolhapur between 1884 and 1922. It was then named after late singer-actor Keshavrao Bhosale.

₹35-crore renovation

The theatre is slated to be inaugurated on August 9 this year after it was gutted in a fire on August 8, 2024. According to the KMC, the State government had spent ₹35 crore to renovate the historic building.

Artistes also questioned the need for privatising the theatre at a time when it is well-equipped and set for inauguration.

Anand Kale, television and film actor, said, “The rangakarmis (artistes) have worked with the Kolhapur administration to renovate the Palace Theatre. Now that it is well-equipped, suddenly, why do they want to privatise it? Why not run it themselves and make it profitable? We are even willing to pay increased rent per show at the theatre.”

The artistes also highlighted that the theatre is located near the 25,000-seating capacity Khasbag Khusti Maidan, said to be India’s biggest wrestling stadium, where several theatre performances are also staged. They pointed out that a plan to build an exhibition hall on a plot adjacent to the theatre has also been sanctioned.

Before the fire incident, the rent for each show at the auditorium was ₹12,500. The artistes have expressed willingness to pay increased rent but want the theatre to be controlled by the KMC.

“If we do the math, with the renovated auditorium in place, the KMC can easily earn 1.20 crore per annum,” Mr. Kale said.

He based his calculation on the 450 slots that were booked the year before the fire took place and increased rent between ₹25,000 and ₹35,000.

‘Outsource services’

The artistes appealed to the KMC to outsource services, including security, cleaning, repairs and maintenance, and not hand over the theatre’s entire management to a private company. “If they [KMC officials] are so confident that the private firm can make profits, then why not form a team that can make profits for the KMC,” Mr. Jamdagni said.

Meanwhile, defending the move, KMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bharud said privatisation will help the theatre sustain itself financially. “The decision was taken by the general body. The services are being privatised. KMC will still be jointly operating the theatre with the private player. It is my responsibility that transparency is maintained,” he said.