The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), (formerly the Bombay Municipal Corporation) may soon install mobile jammers in the civic-run drama (natak) theatre and auditoriums. Artists like Subodh Bhave, Sumeet Ragavan have complained of disturbance caused by mobile ringtones while plays are staged. Sheetal Mhatre (Shiv Sena Corporator) wrote to BMC Chief Pravin Pardeshi regarding this issue. She wrote “Ringing of mobile phones while dramas are being staged often distract artists. The artists had expressed their distress over this and sought some solution,”.
The administration replied saying mobile jammers can be considered after taking due permission from the Central government and a written assurance from the organizers that they will be responsible in case of any emergency situation once the jammers are installed. BMC operates 5 auditoriams in Mumbai where Marathi, Gujarati and Hindi plays are staged. The five auditoriums are Deenanath Mangeshkar Natyagriha (Vile Parle), Prabodhankar Thackeray Rangmanch (Shivadi), Swarsamrat Kundanlal Saigal Open Air Theatre (Malad), Prabodhankar Keshav Sitaram Thackeray Natyamandir (Borivli) and Mahakavi Kalidas Natyagruha (Mulund). Veteran actors like Subodh Bhave, Vikram Gokhale, and Sumit Raghvan were among those who have expressed their distress over the issue on the social media.
Source: The Free Press Journal (India)
