Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude while replying to the demands on Monday evening was at his oratory best. Faced with a mountain of issues related to infrastructure in Art and Culture, and Sports, the minister showed his penchant for poetry and theatre to dish out a blistering script that left listeners in awe. In this high-pitch discourse, Gaude exuded flamboyance with subtle references to the Solomon Islands and the iconic Taj Mahal but left those seeking answers in the middle of nowhere.
Gaude sounded emphatic in explaining that Kala Academy is a seat of excellence and how it was on shaky ground in 2017 and needed urgent restoration. He revisited the landscape and recalled meeting experts and calling out for help while taking a dig at the Charles Correa Foundation (CCF) charging them for not standing up when needed. The minister slammed critics and the opposition for creating an environment of animosity on trivial issues, but steered away from reconciliation.
There were no assurances as Gaude struck a defiant chord. However, on Tuesday morning, when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was replying to the role of the PWD in the Kala Academy works during Question Hour, better sense prevailed as he agreed to review work by taking suggestions of aggrieved artistes and Charles Correa Foundation.
While it is common knowledge that the art and culture minister and CCF are in disagreement over the architectural engineering and the colonial vibe of Kala Academy, there are other functional issues that tiatr and natak producers are grappling with. While structural construction is a much deeper subject that needs an examination by experts, the functional issues could have been amicably settled through dialogue.
For example, stage artistes have been complaining about the sound quality ever since the auditorium was thrown open contrary to Gaude’s argument that the sound is of professional standard. Sound forms the most crucial component of stage performances along with light effects. The concerns of directors and producers appear to be genuine because they were incurring an additional cost of 10-15 thousand rupees for hiring sound equipment from outside.
There have been complaints over lights; the AC duct positioned at the centre of the stage brought in mild distortion to the sound and additional lights in the green room proved to be a discomfort. These issues could have been sorted out amicably across the table without getting into conflict. Roger Drego, the Sound Man of India, may have contended that the sound system is outdated, but those issues could have been dealt with separately.
Taking cudgels against artistes, that too over a stage that is meant for them is unfortunate. Gaude has been a stage personality himself and takes pride in conveying that. On that count, he should have been in a better position to understand the requirements. It is sad that Kala Academy has become the centre of a rivalry between the minister and artistes.
Sawant’s gesture to intervene and engage everyone must be appreciated. The system cannot make artistes look like culprits. Those at the helm must facilitate a smooth transition in the larger interest of taking our culture forward. The issues faced at Kala Academy must end as soon as possible.
