<p>On Saturday, Bengaluru’s theatre community got together to bid farewell to H N Kalakshetra, the performance space at National College in Jayanagar 7th Block.</p>.<p>Named after the renowned educationist and rationalist <br>Dr Hosur Narasimhaiah, the hall opened in January 1986. Over the decades, it had become a hub for theatre people from across the city.</p>.<p>Arundhati Nag, B Jayashree, Sihi Kahi Chandru and a host of other well-known theatre people gathered behind the hall last Saturday. The evening was marked by informal speeches about the venue, songs, and the release of a sky lantern.</p>.<p>Theatre groups say rehearsal spaces are shrinking, and the demolition of H N Kalakshetra will only add to their woes. Since its early days, 36-year-old amateur theatre group Sanchaya has rehearsed and performed at H N Kalakshetra. “For almost 20 years of our journey, it was central to all <br>our rehearsals, readings and performances. We also organised three theatre festivals there,” says Keerthi Bhanu, actor and senior member of the group.</p>.<p>While amateur theatre groups aspired to perform at Ravindra Kalaskshetra, with 900 seats, they ran into many difficulties. It was government-run, and theatre bookings were subject to cancellation if government events came up. Many groups turned to the 600-seater auditorium in National College.</p>.<p>Ganesh Shenoy, senior member of Sanchaya, recalls Narasimhaiah’s generous nature, “Back in the day, in addition to the auditorium and the open area, he would let us use the classrooms for rehearsals for free. He wouldn’t take a single paisa, as he was aware of how theatre groups struggled even to set up a single show. He would encourage theatre groups to work together. What made it more special were the people that he had appointed to run the hall. They added life to the venue.”</p>.<p>One such H N Kalakshetra staffer is Rudraiah V, a lighting technician.</p>.<p>“I joined National College in 1978. HN held such high positions but his living was so simple. Once I graduated, he was the one who appointed me at the office in National College and later gave me a job as a lighting technician. He always looked after the people around him. He was one of the reasons theatre began to thrive in the city,” Rudraiah says.</p>.<p><strong>College hotspot</strong></p>.<p>A student of the college between 1990 and 1995, Ritwik Simha, creative director of Vedike Foundation, recalls the vibrant nature of the performance space.</p>.<p>“All five years I spent at college, I would religiously visit H N Kalakshetra every single day. There was always something exciting happening — theatre, music, or laughter club meetings,” he says.</p>.<p>His fondest college memories revolve around a theatre festival. “There used to be an annual inter-class drama competition, where all classes from PUC to degree would take part. It was the most fun we would have. Coincidentally, this is also where I met my wife Jasleen. H N Kalakshetra gave me the love of my life,” he says.</p>.<p><strong>Uncertain future</strong></p>.<p>The building, up for demolition, will make way for a five-floor engineering college building.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The venue was already in a dilapidated condition. The new building will also have a 800-seater auditorium. Our aim is to always carry forward <br />H Narasimaiah’s legacy. While the space will primarily be meant for the college students, we will rent it out for theatre and other performances on weekends,” says V Venkatasiva Reddy, secretary of National Education Society.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Krishna Hebbale, member of Rangasourabha who is also acting in films in recent years, hopes “the new management will make the upcoming space as hospitable as HN did”.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Hopefully they don’t quote Rs 2,000 a day to rent the space out for rehearsals. It will be a shame to see HN’s legacy die like this. Many colleges in the city have great auditoriums but they aren’t accessible to theatre troupes because of high charges. This needs to change,” he says.</p>
<p>On Saturday, Bengaluru’s theatre community got together to bid farewell to H N Kalakshetra, the performance space at National College in Jayanagar 7th Block.</p>.<p>Named after the renowned educationist and rationalist <br>Dr Hosur Narasimhaiah, the hall opened in January 1986. Over the decades, it had become a hub for theatre people from across the city.</p>.<p>Arundhati Nag, B Jayashree, Sihi Kahi Chandru and a host of other well-known theatre people gathered behind the hall last Saturday. The evening was marked by informal speeches about the venue, songs, and the release of a sky lantern.</p>.<p>Theatre groups say rehearsal spaces are shrinking, and the demolition of H N Kalakshetra will only add to their woes. Since its early days, 36-year-old amateur theatre group Sanchaya has rehearsed and performed at H N Kalakshetra. “For almost 20 years of our journey, it was central to all <br>our rehearsals, readings and performances. We also organised three theatre festivals there,” says Keerthi Bhanu, actor and senior member of the group.</p>.<p>While amateur theatre groups aspired to perform at Ravindra Kalaskshetra, with 900 seats, they ran into many difficulties. It was government-run, and theatre bookings were subject to cancellation if government events came up. Many groups turned to the 600-seater auditorium in National College.</p>.<p>Ganesh Shenoy, senior member of Sanchaya, recalls Narasimhaiah’s generous nature, “Back in the day, in addition to the auditorium and the open area, he would let us use the classrooms for rehearsals for free. He wouldn’t take a single paisa, as he was aware of how theatre groups struggled even to set up a single show. He would encourage theatre groups to work together. What made it more special were the people that he had appointed to run the hall. They added life to the venue.”</p>.<p>One such H N Kalakshetra staffer is Rudraiah V, a lighting technician.</p>.<p>“I joined National College in 1978. HN held such high positions but his living was so simple. Once I graduated, he was the one who appointed me at the office in National College and later gave me a job as a lighting technician. He always looked after the people around him. He was one of the reasons theatre began to thrive in the city,” Rudraiah says.</p>.<p><strong>College hotspot</strong></p>.<p>A student of the college between 1990 and 1995, Ritwik Simha, creative director of Vedike Foundation, recalls the vibrant nature of the performance space.</p>.<p>“All five years I spent at college, I would religiously visit H N Kalakshetra every single day. There was always something exciting happening — theatre, music, or laughter club meetings,” he says.</p>.<p>His fondest college memories revolve around a theatre festival. “There used to be an annual inter-class drama competition, where all classes from PUC to degree would take part. It was the most fun we would have. Coincidentally, this is also where I met my wife Jasleen. H N Kalakshetra gave me the love of my life,” he says.</p>.<p><strong>Uncertain future</strong></p>.<p>The building, up for demolition, will make way for a five-floor engineering college building.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The venue was already in a dilapidated condition. The new building will also have a 800-seater auditorium. Our aim is to always carry forward <br />H Narasimaiah’s legacy. While the space will primarily be meant for the college students, we will rent it out for theatre and other performances on weekends,” says V Venkatasiva Reddy, secretary of National Education Society.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Krishna Hebbale, member of Rangasourabha who is also acting in films in recent years, hopes “the new management will make the upcoming space as hospitable as HN did”.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Hopefully they don’t quote Rs 2,000 a day to rent the space out for rehearsals. It will be a shame to see HN’s legacy die like this. Many colleges in the city have great auditoriums but they aren’t accessible to theatre troupes because of high charges. This needs to change,” he says.</p>