When the renovation is done, Nishagandhi open-air auditorium will emerge as an all-weather venueThiruvananthapuram: With International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) close at hand, Kanakakkunnu Nishagandhi auditorium is undergoing a massive revamp to host some of the major shows of the biggest film festival of the state.
When the renovation is done, Nishagandhi open-air auditorium will emerge as an all-weather venue. The huge auditorium, which has a capacity to accommodate about 3,000 people at a time, is getting a permanent roofing in the shape of a butterfly. The roofing will be made of hollow steel and 12 main pillars will hold the big green butterfly. Electrification is underway. The renovation process is expected to be competed in a week. The seats are also being renovated.
The 20-feet-tall auditorium, equipped with all state-of-the-art facilities, including a 5K projector, will offer a hi-tech film viewing experience to the delegates. The special screen, purchased last year for projecting 3D films, will be used this year also.
State tourism department is at the helm of the revamping process, which costs Rs 3.3 crores. Special care is given to ensure adequate flow of light and air. For this purpose, the sides of the auditorium are left uncovered. Curtains are kept ready to shield the audience if it rains.
Tourism authorities said that most organizers who rent out the space set up temporary roofs for the auditorium and the renovation is aimed at bringing a permanent solution to this issue. The daily rent of the current auditorium is Rs 17,500. Once the roofing is complete, the rent will be increased by at least by two and half times.
The new roof is installed from the current screening platform to the projector room at the rearmost end of the auditorium. Although the renovation project was slammed by cultural leaders such as Adoor Gopalakrishnan, the tourism department decided to go ahead with the project. The renovation is being executed by Steel Industries Kerala Limted (Silk).
