Bengaluru: Putting to rest any speculation around a government takeover of Nrityagram, the first 'modern gurukul' for classical dance, Vishu Kumar, Director, Kannada and Culture Department said, "No such proposal has been submitted before the government.
The state government lease on the land is up for renewal and it is upto Nrityagram to approach the relevant department. This has not yet happened."
Founded by acclaimed Odissi dancer Protima Gauri Bedi in 1990, Nrityagram is India's first dance village - the land, which is owned by the Animal Husbandry Department was given to Bedi on lease. The Karnataka Film Industries Development Corporation, explained Mr. Kumar, "was put in charge of the institution. They wound up, so the Animal Husbandry Department is now in direct control of the lease. It is upto the Animal Husbandry Department to renew the lease once Nrityagram approaches them." The government had originally earmarked 400 acres of land in Hesaraghatta for the development of a film city. Out of this, 30 acres were allotted to Nrityagram, 25 to the Sri Jayachamarajendra Institute of Technology and 10 to the Adarsha Film Institute.
