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Star Theatre turns 125, KMC plans to restore heritage value

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Press Trust of India Kolkata
Last Updated : Jan 20 2013 | 3:44 AM IST

With the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) taking over the management of the theatre from April, efforts are now on to revive its lost glory and make it financially viable.

"Besides commercial film screenings, we will have more theatre performances now. We have plans to build a theatre and drama research centre along with a theatre art gallery and a library," KMC member of Mayor-in-council Atin Ghosh told PTI.

Among the number of measures being taken up by the civic body to restore the institute's place as a leading heritage cultural institution is to stage theatres twice a week.

Star Theatre remained at the centrestage of Bengali art and culture till the 1980s till it was destroyed by a major fire in 1991.

It was rebuilt and now has a 514 seater state-of-the-art auditorium for film screenings as well as stage shows. It also houses an open-air theatre on the top floor.

Almost all well-known Bengali thespians including Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chatterjee, Sabitri Chatterjee and Madhabi Mukherjee had performed at the theatre at some point of their career.

Patronised by legendary Bengali playwright Girish Ghosh, it was built in 1888 in north Kolkata. (MORE)

  

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First Published: May 25 2012 | 2:45 PM IST

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