Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 22: BJP Goa State President Damu Naik has acknowledged the mounting criticism following another technical failure at Kala Academy, marking the second such incident within just a week. Naik expressed his understanding of the difficulties faced by artists and the audience, admitting that the situation was ‘painful.’

The latest disruption occurred during the performance of Shrimant Damodar Pant by Marathi actor Bharat Jadhav, which was delayed due to a malfunctioning air conditioning system. This followed a similar incident the previous Sunday, during the Marathi play Purush, which faced a 15-minute pause due to a lighting failure. The lead actors were forced to apologize to the audience for the interruption.

In a statement to Prudent Media’s programme Head On, Naik empathized with the artists and the public, stating, “I am an artist and also a spectator. I understand the pain artists and the public go through because of this. I share the pain of Kala Academy and the artists facing these challenges. The issue will be resolved in due course.” He assured that the government, party, and central leadership would take appropriate steps to address the technical shortcomings.

Following the first incident, Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude had instructed the Public Works Department (PWD) to investigate and rectify the problems. Naik’s remarks indicate that the BJP is taking responsibility for the situation and is committed to finding a solution.