‘Stage-managed’ show

‘Stage-managed’ show
Deccan Herald

A large part of the credit of making the Suvarna Karnataka programme at the Chinnaswamy Stadium a memorable one goes to the people who designed the podium, which was the centre of all attraction.

A large part of the credit of making the Suvarna Karnataka programme at the Chinnaswamy Stadium a memorable one goes to the people who designed the podium, which was the centre of all attraction.

While Shashidar Adapa, well-known artiste conceptualised the stage design, a team led by Chennai-based Mohan Reddy, executed it. Over hundred artistes from Chennai descended in Bangalore and camped at the stadium to complete the assigned task in a week’s time.

Mr Adapa said he was instructed to design the stage using the traditional architecture of the State.


He designed the stage by making use of the architecture used in Vijayanagara and Hoysala structures. “Initially, I just gave a sketch of the design. Mohan Reddy and his team improvised and executed it. They have done a wonderful job,” he said.

Over 100 artistes from Tamil Nadu also worked day and night for a week to set the stage for the historical Suvarna Karnataka celebrations.

Mohan Reddy and his team was hired by F5 Events and Services Ltd, to which the State government had given the contract of organising the event for about Rs 80 lakh.

Mr A H Anand, one of the directors of the company, told Deccan Herald that the company arranged lighting, sound system, the stage and crackers for the event.

Mohan Reddy and his team were hired for stage work and total money spent on it is Rs 10 lakh. Similarly, a team of light technicians led by Ullas, based in Mumbai, was hired for lighting. The lighting for the programme alone has cost around Rs 30 lakh.

Crackers worth Rs 8 lakh was bought from Shivakashi for the 30-minute show.

F5 Events & Services Pvt Ltd is run by five persons based in Bangalore.

The company has in the past organised many mega events including inauguration of Upper Krishna project in which President APJ Abdul Kalam took part.