Theatre, they say is the life for any artist. Town Hall in Mangalore too ceased to be just a hall and elevated to become the source of livelihood and life for many artistes here in the district. But unfortunately, the hike in the tariff of the hall has left the theatre and other artists with the sense of uncertainty. The tariffs were hiked in 2000 and the latest hiked tariffs came into force on January 1, 2008. The artistes point at several disparities in the tariff and feel that the new tariff will only curtail the growth of art in the district.
Town Hall is rented out for marriages and cultural programmes in morning, afternoon and evening sessions. Accordingly, the rent for cultural programmes, free programmes and Rasamanjari programmes has been made Rs 3,000 per session marking a Rs 1,000 hike. The rent for Yakshagana has not been hiked and hence it still remains to be Rs 1,500 while rent for dramas, magic shows etc with ticket is Rs 5,000. Orchestra troupes are required to pay Rs 7,500. The startling fact is that the rent for marriage is only Rs 15,000, which has not been hiked.
Responding to this, eminent theatre personality, Vijay Kumar Kodialbail says that the move of the administration of hiking the rent will surely strangle Tulu theatre. He says that Town Hall was anyways not accessible for the theatre purpose as it was always booked for marriages and other programmes. Yet the small chunk of time was being occupied by the theatre, but the move of making Town Hall commercialised will take away Town Hall away from theatre completely.
“There are people who spend lakhs of rupees for music concerts, weddings and arangatums held at Town Hall. They should be charged more. The tariffs for marriage and such programmes have not been changed.This is the injustice posed on art and drama. Why are the poor artistes being thrown into dire straits in administration’s quest to make profits?” Mr Kodialbail questions.
Divide and rule
Mr Kodialbail adds that administration, knowing or unknowingly has brought about a divide between Yakshagana and drama artistes. “We have been fighting for various cause together but now since the tariffs have not been hiked for Yakshagana, they will not join us in this fight,” he said and added: “Theatre is the looser from both sides as the assured Ranga Mandira too did not come its way and the only stage that was available for the growth of theatre too is gradually drifting away.”
On the other hand Kalkura Foundation Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Kalkura says that Town hall should not be rented out for marriages at all and it must be kept open only for cultural programmes. It is unbecoming of the administration to hike price on the grounds of renovation and maintenance charges while it is already collecting entertainment cess and library cess.
However, Mangalore City Corporation Joint Commissioner Ajith Kumar Hegde informed that a hike was inevitable as the renovation works had been undertaken.
He informed that since there are very few Yakshagana programmes being staged at  Town Hall and since it is a local art form, the tariff for Yakshagana has been left as it is.