Mangalore, Jan 19: Don Bosco Hall, Balmatta, Road near Jyothi one of the oldest drama theatres  Hall's of the city and also the only auditorium meant exclusively for Drama with artistic, literary and cultural activities is all set for its formal inauguration following renovation. 

The renovated auditorium will be blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese during the inauguration ceremony which will take place on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 03:00 p.m. N. Shashi Kumar, Commissioner of Mangaluru City Police will inaugurate the new auditorium.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Alwyn Dias, Provincial Head of the Capuchin Friars has consented to be the Chief Guest. Abu Dhabi based businessman Leo Rodrigues, Rev. Fr. Melwyn Pinto, Rector of St. Aloysius College and Santhosh Sequeira, Kankanady will be the Guests of Honour. Rev. Fr. Paul Melwyn D’Souza, President of Konkani Natak Sabha will preside over the function. 

The inauguration ceremony will be followed by a cultural programme at 06:00 p.m by the actor members of the Sabha..

Office Bearers of Konkani Natak Sabha Liston Derrek D’souza, Vice President, Floyd Paul D’Mello, General Secretary, Raymond D’Cunha, Public Relations Officer Jerald Concessao, Treasurer, Praveen Rodrigues, Joint Secretary, Cletus Lobo, Executive Committee Member were present.

Don Bosco Hall was constructed in the year 1951  by the Konkani Natak Sabha. The Konkani Natak Sabha is the mother institution of Mangalore Konkani theatre Don Bosco Hall .It has served as the venue to showcase Konkani drama and performing arts. 

Konkani Natak Sabha was the brainchild of the Jesuit priest Rev. George Albuquerque Pai. On September 19, 1943, he had successfully staged a Konkani drama ‘Vignant Jeeth’ at the Academy Hall of St. Aloysius College by mobilizing a few enthusiastic budding youth of Mangalore. This occasion proved to be the initiation for establishing the Konkani Natak Sabha. Hence it is considered to be the Foundation Day of Konkani Natak Sabha. ‘Natak Dwarim Dharmic Saadhan’ is the motto of Konkani Natak Sabha. 

Protection and preservation of Konkani culture through Konkani songs, music, dance, drama and other language based media, and through this, to propagate humanistic values is the sole objective of Konkani Natak Sabha. 

The Konkani Natak Sabha, founded by the Jesuit priest Rev. George Albuquerque Pai, was continued, nurtured and groomed by the Capuchin priest Rev. Philip Neri. In its initial years, the Milagres School premises served as the venue for the meetings, dramas and other activities of Konkani Natak Sabha. At the same time, the search had started for having its own premises for Konkani Natak Sabha. As result a road side property at Balmatta Road near Hampankatta was purchased and registered in 1946. Rev. Fr. Richard, the Capuchin Provincial Head laid the foundation stone on September 19, 1948. 

Though the funding for the construction of the building proved to be a difficult task, the Jesuit priest George A. Pai and Capuchin friar Philip Neri took it as a challenge and completed the building construction project with the help of various generous donors. St. Don Bosco was chosen as the patron and guardian of Konkani Natak Sabha. Hence the building came to be known as Don Bosco Hall. The new auditorium was blessed by Rev. Fr. Julian D’Souza; Vigar Jeral (Shresta Guru) of Mangalore Diocese on August 19, 1951 and the then collector Sri Rajaratnam inaugurated it. On this occasion, a play ‘Sapan Va Nij Gazal’, written by M. P. D’Sa was performed on the new stage. 

Over the last 70 years of its existence, Don Bosco Hall has provided a platform for thousands of artists, dramatists, singers and music composers to introduce and showcase their talents. This hall, which has a history of seven decades, is now renovated into a stunning modern theatre. It is all set to host artistic performances by the exponents of theatre, music and dance. There are also facilities for conducting various training programmes in art. 

272 Drama and performance artiste's of 14 different units are the members of Konkani Natak Sabha. There is also a women’s unit.