Revamped Siri Fort to be ready in three years
HT had reported last month that The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and NBCC (India) Limited signed an MoU in July to redevelop the 1982 Asian Games-era complex into five specialised zones — a performance and theatre district, an Indian film and media hub, an immersive heritage gallery, a convention and dialogue forum, and a culinary plaza.
Officials said the 5.5-acre campus will be redeveloped into a multi-zone cultural hub with cutting-edge facilities, integrating global performance and exhibition standards. The redeveloped Siri Fort will have a built-up area exceeding 20,000 square metres, officials added.
'The re-envisioned Siri Fort will be a multidimensional cultural campus. It will integrate state-of-the-art technology, world-class acoustics and universal accessibility, while creating spaces that can adapt to different event formats,' an NBCC official said.
Further, experts will be hired for theatre consultancy, stage engineering, acoustics, traffic planning and AV (audio visual) and ICT (information and communication technology), officials said.
Currently home to four auditoriums with over 2,600 seats, Siri Fort has hosted events ranging from international film festivals and classical music evenings to policy summits and cultural diplomacy events. However, officials said, the infrastructure is overdue for a comprehensive upgrade.
According to the tender document, also seen by HT, the revamped Siri Fort will have international codes and standards, including those of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).
The new performance and theatre district will be able to accommodate 1,800–2,000 people for concerts, theatre productions and festivals, featuring AI-driven sound and lighting controls and LED-based creative lighting systems.
Officials said the second section — the Indian film and media hub will be a 'cinematic powerhouse' expected to host immersive cinema experiences, archival exhibitions, and interactive industry showcases.
The third area has been planned as an immersive heritage gallery that, the document said, will blend technology with cultural storytelling, allowing visitors to experience history in an interactive and engaging manner. These galleries will use virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and multimedia installations to bring historical artifacts, monuments and traditions to life, officials said.
The fourth section, convention and dialogue forum, will cater to global conferences, policy summits and academic seminars with modular AV systems, intelligent lighting and flexible seating layouts. It will serve as a structured platform for discussions, negotiations, and knowledge exchange across various sectors, including politics, economics, sustainability and social development.
The culinary plaza is the fifth element that is planned as a gastronomic destination for food lovers.
'Culinary Plaza will be a vibrant hub designed to celebrate food culture, bringing together diverse cuisines, renowned chefs and immersive gastronomic experiences. It will serve as a dynamic space where food lovers, culinary professionals and businesses converge to explore, innovate and indulge in the art of cooking and dining,' an official said.
Moreover, NBCC will also integrate power systems, dedicated plant rooms, advanced fire safety measures and 24x7 surveillance with access control.
The tender document mentioned that the interiors will feature ergonomic seating, acoustic optimisation, and energy-efficient lighting, while the structural design will prioritise stability, durability and ease of maintenance with sustainability as a core mandate, the official said.
For artists, filmmakers and audiences, Siri Fort has long been a shared space for performance, dialogue, and discovery. Nestled in the heart of South Delhi and originally built for the 1982 Asian Games, the Siri Fort complex has long served as the capital's premier venue for film screenings, music concerts, and policy events.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
11 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Want to work but people hesitant to cast after cancer diagnosis: Hina Khan
Mumbai, A year after Indian TV star Hina Khan announced her breast cancer diagnosis, she says she can sense that people from the industry are still hesitant to work with her. Want to work but people hesitant to cast after cancer diagnosis: Hina Khan The actor said work took a backseat after she fell ill and she had to leave a lot of offers. She is now back on the small screen with "Pati Patni Aur Panga". 'This is my first project after the whole thing happened. I want to work. No one has directly said to me that, 'You've still not recovered completely', but I can sense that maybe people are hesitant for all the right reasons. "It's okay. I'll have to break that norm. Maybe the show will do it, I understand it. Had I been in their place, I would've thought about it a thousand times. I'm open to auditions, where did I stop? No one has called me for the last one year, for all the reasons. I'm open to everything, please call me,' Khan told PTI in an interview. The 37-year-old actor, known for shows such as 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai', 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2', 'Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8' and 'Bigg Boss 11', said she feels glad to have made a comeback to work with her ongoing reality show, which is currently on air on Colors Channel. The show features fan-favourite celebrity couples including Hina Khan-Rocky Jaiswal, Debinna Bonnerjee-Gurmeet Choudhary, Rubina Dilaik-Abhinav Shukla, Avika Gor-Milind Chandwani, Swara Bhasker-Fahad Ahmad, Geeta Phogat-Pawan Kumar, and Sudesh Lehri-Mamta Lehri. The show stars celebrity couples competing against each other as they open their hearts and homes to take on fun challenges. 'It was a big step for me to take up the show and it was an experiment as far as my health is concerned, like whether I'll be able to do it or not. So far so good, I get tired a bit, but apart from that, everything is fine. I'm ready to take up anything, be it a digital show, or anything, I would not take up long term commitment. If anything is offered , if they find me worthy enough, then why not,' Khan said. The actor said she is keen to play a spy agent. 'I want to be part of the spy universe, be it in OTT or in films. I was watching a show, 'Special Ops', I so wanted to play a spy, manifesting it,' Khan said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Pink Villa
11 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
Mahavatar Narasimha Box Office: Tops 150cr in India with 4th Biggest Third Saturday ever
Mahavatar Narasimha delivered a sensational third Saturday at the Indian box office, collecting Rs. 21.50 crore approx. This stands as the fourth-highest third Saturday ever in India, trailing the two biggest grossers of the country: Baahubali 2 (Rs. 35.50 crore) & Pushpa 2 (Rs. 27.50 crore), along with Chhaava (Rs. 26.50 crore). The total gross of the film stands at Rs. 152 crore approx, and in doing so, it also became the first animated film to gross over Rs. 150 crore. Being an animated film, the film caters to family audiences, leading to it playing stronger on weekends. Yesterday, being a holiday for Raksha Bandhan, which is a big day for family outings, gave it a further boost. The film nearly tripled its Friday earnings, with the Hindi version soaring to more than three times, a surge rarely witnessed for Indian films. At the end of its second week, Mahavatar Narasimha looked like it would touch the Rs. 200 crore mark, provided it held well in the fourth week amid Independence Day biggies, Coolie and War 2. Cut to today, the film will cruise past the double-century mark and is now aiming for more. The coming weekend will be a scheduling headache for programmers. Given the current momentum of this film, cutting back shows will not be an easy call. The Day Wise Box Office Collections of Mahavatar Narasimha in India are as follows: Globally, animation is one of the most bankable genres, delivering some of the highest-grossing films of all time. Just this year, Chinese animation Ne Zha 2 obliterated box office records in the country, grossing over USD 2 billion. In several countries, animation is the most popular genre for movie-going. However, in India, it has very few takers. The genre is often looked down on as 'kids cinema', and in India, kids don't drive the box office. The religious animation does have some appeal, but except for Punjabi film Chaar Sahibzade, nothing has found the success, that is, until now. Mahavatar Narasimha is the first in the announced cinematic universe of seven films. The hope is that this film and franchise will break the stigma and unlock the massive potential of animation that has already delivered blockbusters worldwide. NOTE: The aforementioned box office numbers do not include 3D charges. Including 3D charges, Mahavatar Narasimha has grossed Rs. 168 crore approx in India.
News18
20 minutes ago
- News18
Mithoon And Palak Muchhal Announce First-Ever India Tour, Bag Rs 10 Crore Deal
Mithoon and Palak Muchhal will start their first joint India tour, Mithoon & Palak Live – A Tribute to Indian Cinema, on October 4 in Surat. Renowned composer Mithoon and playback singer Palak Muchhal are set to take their music across the country with their first-ever joint India tour. Titled Mithoon & Palak Live – A Tribute to Indian Cinema, the large-scale production is valued at Rs 10 crore. The tour will open on October 4 in Surat before travelling to multiple cities nationwide. The idea for the tour emerged after the duo's first joint live act earlier this year. In June, they performed a tribute to veteran actors Raj Kapoor and Manoj Kumar at a television award show, an appearance that drew strong reactions from the audience. Tour organiser Paresh Khandelwal, Chairman of Yashvi Group, said, 'We were mesmerised to see Mithoon and Palak perform live at a television award show recently, it is our vision and desire to take their act live all over the country for which we have launched this tour. We will be starting with the magical city of Surat and few other cities in Gujarat, followed by other parts of the country." The tour's first leg will cover key destinations in Gujarat, including Surat, Baroda, and Ahmedabad, before expanding to other regions of India. Dates and venues for subsequent cities are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Mithoon and Palak Muchhal's professional association began in 2013 with the chart-topping Meri Aashiqui from Aashiqui 2. Over the past decade, they have worked on numerous projects. Mithun Sharma, professionally known as Mithoon, is an Indian film music director, composer, lyricist, and singer. He rose to prominence with the hit song 'Tum Hi Ho" from the 2013 romantic drama Aashiqui 2, which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. At the 59th Filmfare Awards in 2014, he was also nominated for Best Lyricist. Mithoon went on to write and compose 'Sanam Re", one of the most-streamed Hindi songs on YouTube, which won the title of 'Most Streamed Song of 2016" at the Global Indian Music Academy Awards. In 2011, he played a pivotal role in launching singer Arijit Singh, introducing him alongside Mohammad Irfan Ali with the track 'Phir Mohabbat". Meanwhile, Palak Muchhal is an Indian playback singer and lyricist who has worked extensively in Hindi cinema as well as other Indian film industries. Alongside her younger brother, Palash Muchhal, she performs stage shows across India and abroad to raise funds for underprivileged children requiring heart surgery, a charitable initiative that has supported hundreds of medical treatments. Muchhal has recorded for numerous hit films, including Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Aashiqui 2 (2013), Kick (2014), Action Jackson (2014), Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), Kaabil (2017), Baaghi 2 (2018), and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019). Her performance of 'Kaun Tujhe" from M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story received widespread acclaim from both audiences and leading figures in the music industry. On 6 November 2022, she married music composer Mithoon. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
