New multi-art centre in the city?

The proposed multi-art centre would be modelled on the lines of Bharat Bhavan

The city is becoming a hub for various cultural events. Be it art shows, theatre performances, staging dances or music, these events are becoming to the Hyderabadi crowd. But the city faces an undeniable shortage of stages for such events. With this in mind, the Telangana government has decided to construct a multi-art centre, which would be modelled on the lines of Bharat Bhavan, an autonomous multi-art complex and museum funded by the Madhya Pradesh government, at Bhopal.

It was decided by the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao after a review meeting with officials of the department of culture on the availability of auditoriums and theatres in the city.

"Ravindra Bharathi, which has been operating for nearly five decades, is booked all through the year due to heavy demand from organisers of cultural programmes,” said R Kavitha Prasad, director, department of culture.

“Moreover, the 250-seat capacity auditorium is in the heart of the city. We have an extent of 1,600 square yards behind Ravindra Bharathi, where the previous Congress government had proposed to construct a mini auditorium. The proposal was later shelved. The CM, who visited the area recently, directed us to construct a 150-seat capacity mini auditorium. However, it would be used for rehearsals only," she added.

Besides Ravindra Bharathi, Hari Hara Kala Bhavan, Chitramayee State Gallery of Fine Arts, Indira Priyadarshini auditorium, Shilpa Kala Vedika as well as open air auditoriums such as Lalitha Kala Thoranam that tend to the needs of cultural organisations. The roads and buildings (R&B) department were directed by the Telangana Chief Minister to identify eight acres of government land in the city for the multi-art complex.