Kolhapur artistes protest move to privatise historic Palace Theatre
Artistes and cultural activists in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, have voiced strong opposition to a proposal that would transfer the management of the historic Palace Theatre to a private company. The theatre, officially known as the Sangeetsurya Keshavrao Bhosale Natyagruha, has been a hub for performing arts for over a century.
On Tuesday, a group of artistes staged a protest demanding 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 entity.
“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 Palace Theatre, built in 1915 under the initiative of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, who ruled the princely state of Kolhapur from 1884 to 1922, is considered a centre of art and cultural heritage. It was later named after late singer-actor Keshavrao Bhosale.
The theatre was gutted in a fire on August 8, 2024, and is slated to be inaugurated on August 9 this year after a ₹35-crore renovation funded by the state government. Artistes questioned the timing of the privatisation move, noting that the theatre is now well-equipped and ready for reopening.
Anand Kale, a 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 have expressed willingness to pay higher rent—between ₹25,000 and ₹35,000 per show—compared to the pre-fire rate of ₹12,500. Kale estimated that with 450 slots booked annually, the KMC could earn ₹1.20 crore per year from the renovated auditorium.
They also highlighted the theatre’s location near the 25,000-seating Khasbag Khusti Maidan, India’s biggest wrestling stadium, where theatre performances are also staged. A plan to build an exhibition hall on an adjacent plot has been sanctioned.
The artistes appealed to the KMC to outsource services such as security, cleaning, and maintenance rather than handing over the 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,” Jamdagni said.
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.
