The city of Mumbai is known for its glittering Bollywood industry and housing the tallest residential building in India – the Palais Royale, and its exquisite art galleries. But that isn’t all, Mumbai also has some of the most iconic bridges, from where you may enjoy the view of both landscapes and skyscapes. There are many things to do in Mumbai, go visit the Juhu beach, stroll the streets for some delectable food, or maybe watch a cultural performance. No other place is as exquisite as Sri Shanmukhananda Hall for an evening of art and music. It so happens, it is also the largest auditorium in India.
Sri Shanmukhananda Hall Mumbai
Sri Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion, Mumbai is the largest auditorium in India. It is known for promoting Indian cultural events, especially classical art, dance, and music. It is best known for its ‘Sangeet Sabha.’ Over the years, maestros such as Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar, L. Subramaniam, and Zakir Hussain have performed at the venue. It was renamed to Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium on 27th December 1998.
History of Sri Shanmukhananda Hall Mumbai
In 1943, the musical minds of Dr Iyengar, Rao Saheb, Anantha Iyer, P R Sundaraja Iyengar, and Srinivasa Iyer, among others came together to engender a cultural establishment called ‘Krishna Gana Sabha.’ During a 1951 performance, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was disappointed over the absence of a nurturing centre for upcoming artists in Mumbai. The following year in September, Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabhawas was inaugurated to address this concern.
Even though the foundation stone was laid as early as 1958, the construction of Sri Shanmukhananda Hall was completed between 1960 to 1963. It opened its gate on 22 August 1963. BVS Iyengar was the prime architect for the project.
Fire Incident and Renovations
In February 1990, during a school performance, the Sri Shanmukhananda Hall caught fire. Parts of the magnificent hall were destroyed in the aftermath. This included the asbestos roofing, the front seats, and the stage & immediate surroundings. This called for a renovation. In 1999, the hall was eventually opened, with a seating capacity of 2763, effectively making it the largest auditorium in India. The seating includes 1462 seats on the ground floor, 791 seats on the first floor, and 510 balcony seats.
The responsibility fell to IM Kadri Architects, who with the help of structural designers and consultants, strengthened the roof’s steel trusses and aligned them properly. The loading on the balcony floors was examined. The older interiors of Sri Shanmukhananda Hall were altered while still maintaining the auditorium’s basic structure. The architecture firm envisioned the new Sri Shanmukhananda Hall with a Hindu temple architecture. The stage was completely rebuilt, and a five-story tower of 15,000 sq ft was proposed. It had a beige finish with a ‘gopuram’ at the centre.
The floors form a ‘rangoli’ pattern, made of black and red granite, disrupted by white marble in floral patterns. The ceiling features relief work and copper sculptures. The entrances are wooden frames with arched heads. In the segmented ceiling, bronze light fixtures are embedded, which cave in to permit natural light in the day. In addition, the wide glass windowpanes bring additional light. The foyer is visible through the handrails, a floor above. There is also a lounge on the first floor above the front foyer.
Architecture of the NEW Sri Shanmukhananda Hall Mumbai
The ground floor seating originates with the curves of the stage. The seats are divided into a groups of four. The main aisle, however, segregates the seats into asymmetrical patterns, ensuring that the seats permit accurate sightlines. The first-row seats are reserved for VIPs. Each row is 1.5 m wide. The Sri Shanmukhananda Hall stage is elevated by 1.2 meters. The inner area is 30m x 20m, whereas the outer area is 40m x 10m. Made of wood, it has two staircases on either side and four stage wings. It is finished with wooden laminating. The back curtain hides air-conditioning and fire-fighting equipment.
Due to the reflective and absorbing surfaces, the acoustics of Sri Shanmukhananda Hall are greatly enhanced. The polished marble on either side reflects the sound from the imported JBL Harman systems. These sides also feature murals representing nature through lush greens, bright sun, mountains, rivers, and a rainbow. The acoustic board at the back of the hall & ceilings and the carpeted flooring absorb any unwarranted noise. These boards are non-flammable and anti-pollution.
The Sri Shanmukhananda Hall is equipped with four green rooms, two each on the ground and first floors. With the attached washroom, they are 200 square meters.
Image Courtesy – Shanmukhananda
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