Just a week after a Marathi drama was disrupted due to lighting issues at Kala Academy, another drama reportedly faced interruption on Sunday. This time the air-conditioning stopped functioning. The government has reacted to the repeated glitches at the premiere cultural institute in the state by alleging ‘sabotage’. The question that arises is how can someone sabotage the functioning of the cultural centre when there will obviously be KA staff present during a programme. Since the audience is paying to witness the cultural programmes at the KA and are denied the basic necessities of proper lighting, sound system and functioning air-conditioners, it becomes a fit case for the consumer forum to probe into the deficiencies. Ticket money should be refunded if a programme is cancelled due to glitches. It would be in the fitness of things for the government to form a committee of artistes from various sections, like Marathi dramas and Konkani tiatrs, to look into the day-to-day functioning of the premiere cultural institutions. Such a committee of artistes will be in the best position to solve problems arising with respect to lighting, sound, air-conditioning, etc.
