Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) newly launched ‘Rangyatra’ mobile application for online booking of municipal theatres and cultural centers has drawn criticism from theatre groups, producers, and event managers. Alleging that the system is impractical and detrimental to local artists, a collective of theatre professionals has formally demanded the cancellation of the app.
Until now, bookings for PMC-run theatres and cultural centers were made through physical visits to the cultural department. In an effort to modernize the process, PMC announced the ‘Rangyatra’ app on March 12, allowing for digital reservations. However, 15 major theatre organizations have opposed the move, stating that the new system is flawed and may lead to unfair advantages for larger event management companies.
A delegation representing these organizations met with Cultural Commissioner Sunil Ballal and submitted a memorandum expressing their concerns.
The statement was endorsed by several key figures in the industry, including Sunil Mahajan (Sambad), Pravin Barve (Parag Publicity), Sameer Hampi (S.H. Enterprises), Satyajit Dhandekar (Rajeshwari), Mohan Kulkarni (Manoranjan), Baba Patil (Marathi Film Association), Vijay Patwardhan (Vijay Patwardhan Foundation), Shirish Kulkarni (Rangyatra), and Yogesh Supekar (All Artist Foundation). Additionally, veteran actors and producers such as Prashant Damle, Sharad Ponkshe, Bhagyashree Desai, and Ashok Hande have also expressed their disapproval.
Concerns Raised by Theatre Professionals:
Online reservations are inconvenient for theatre managers, producers, artists, and folk performers, making it difficult to plan performances efficiently.
PMC lacks the infrastructure to handle a high volume of booking requests online, raising concerns about mismanagement and technical issues.
The requirement for advance payments is financially burdensome for many Marathi theatre producers.
Large event companies may dominate the booking system, leaving small and local theatre groups at a disadvantage.
