Mumbai\u2019s Royal Opera House has had quite a dramatic life. Conceived in 1908 by Maurice Bandmann (a well-known entertainer from Kolkata) and Jehangir Framji Karaka, who headed a coal-broking firm, the grand edifice was inaugurated in 1911 by King George V and completed in 1916. Once celebrated as Mumbai\u2019s cultural crown jewel, it gradually suffered neglect and lay in ruins. And, finally, in 1991, India\u2019s only surviving opera house shut down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The Opera House initially catered to Mumbai\u2019s elite, including British officials, Europeans and affluent Indians.
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In 2010, its restoration was commissioned by Jyotendrasingji of the erstwhile royal family of Gondal in Gujarat, which has owned the Royal Opera House since the 1950s.<\/p>\n
The work was entrusted to conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah, who, over six years, gave the building a new lease of life while retaining much of its original structure and architectural grandeur, including the side balconies and exquisite ceilings. It accommodates 575 seats across three levels \u2014 Royal Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Balcony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Constructed in Baroque style, the Opera House, which acquired the prefix \u2018royal\u2019 following King George V\u2019s visit to Bombay, featured Italian balustrades, Corinthian columns, marble statues, ornamented gold ceilings, Minton tiled flooring and crystal chandeliers.<\/p>\n
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Ornamented gold ceilings, Minton-tiled flooring and crystal chandeliers define its opulent interiors.
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Initially conceived as a venue for opera, the Opera House catered largely to Mumbai\u2019s elite \u2014 British officials, Europeans and a cosmopolitan section of Indians. Subsequently, it opened its doors to Indian musicians and theatre personalities such as Bal Gandharva, Krishna Master, Bapu Pendharkar, Master Dinanath, Jyotsna Bhole and Prithviraj Kapoor. In 1925, British Pathe, a producer of newsreels and documentaries, rented it for screening its films. Also, with the entry of \u2018talkie\u2019 movies in the early 1930s, the popularity of cinema increased. In 1935, Ideal Pictures acquired the theatre and renovated it. But, some decades later, the growing popularity of home video and the decline of single screen cinemas gradually took their toll. And the Opera House eventually shut down.<\/p>\n
Today, the Gondal royal family\u2019s descendants, Himanshusinghji and Kumud Kumari, with the support of honorary director Ashish Doshi, oversee the activities of the Royal Opera House, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary of its renovation. The event was marked by a musical programme, curated and led by Vishal Shah. The show brought together Bollywood hits and classical and contemporary music.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Asad Lalljee.
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Speaking about the restoration, Asad Lalljee, curator of the Royal Opera House and CEO of Avid Learning, said, \u201cIt has supported the creative economy, bringing prominence to not just our building, but to the neighbourhood that goes by the same name.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He added that over the past decade, the venue had hosted a diverse range of events, which included music, theatre, dance, literature, cinema, architecture, heritage, children\u2019s programmes, cultural diplomacy and conversations on contemporary issues.<\/p>\n
In the next decade, Lalljee hoped to expand international collaborations, develop more interdisciplinary programmes and explore new possibilities at the intersection of art, technology and design. \u201cEqually important is strengthening our engagement with younger audiences and building deeper partnerships,\u201d he said, underscoring the Royal Opera House\u2019s significant role in shaping the city\u2019s cultural sensibilities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n