BENGALURU: The building made of stone that stands opposite the BBMP office, known to many as Badami House or George Oakes Building, has been a hub for the Kannada film industry for the last few decades. Soon to be demolished, as it is private property, the building holds a special place in the hearts of industry folk and Bengalureans alike.This building played a crucial role in shaping Sandalwood by being home to pioneering artistes, and hosting discussions on movies and screenings.
History books point to Anglo-Mysore war fought here
But, the century-old building has a richer history than what it is known for today. Arun Prasad, a city-based independant historian, says that though history books point out that this was the spot where the third of four Anglo-Mysore wars (1970-1792) was fought, the fact is that the siege happened a little away at the Yellahanka Gate (at the Avenue Road entrance). The Fort Gate, aka Ulsoor Gate, which was built by Kempegowda, stood adjacent to the building, and it was through here that the British army, led by Lord Cornawallis (former Governor-General of India and commander-in-chief of the East India Company), fought against Tipu Sultans’, say history books. The Fort Gate was a prominent one, and was demolished only in the 1980s.
“The British and the Mysore armies fought a gruelling five-day war. Though there are no remnants of Kempegowda’s fort here, it won’t be surprising that if some digging happens, historical artifacts will be found. It is unfortunate that we have no regard for history, which is seen through the fact that there are no traces of Kempegowda’s fort anymore,” he says.
The building was then owned by industrialist George Oakes after, who dealt in automobiles, and it is said that the company moved out by the 1950s.
George Oakes Building also housed the United States Information Service (USIS) Library, which had a vast collection of journals, magazines and books, and also held discussions on literature from time to time.
The building was then owned by Sarvottam Badami, a pioneer in the Indian film industry, who started his career as a sound recordist for the first talkie of the country - Alam Ara. He then went on to become a producer and director, and retired from the industry 1952 in the city.
Badami then sold the building to a real estate developer (it’s current owner), after which it became popular for hosting some stalwarts in Indian cinema. Now, after a legal ownership battle on heritage site grounds between the Karnataka government and the owners, the High Court ruled in the favour of the latter.
Vishnuvardhan, Rajkumar and Shyam Benegal at Badami House
In the 1980s, the Priyadarshini preview theatre located inside Badami House was the only screening facility at the time. The Central Board of Film Certification members watched previews of films here, along with the who’s who of the film industry, including Dr Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Shyam Benegal and Ilaiyaraja.
The Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA) and the Film Unit of Department of Information and Public Relations are also housed here currently, and they have begun packing to move to their new home in Nandini Layout, after which demolition will start.
KCA chairperson, filmmaker and producer Rajendra Singh Babu, says, “The theatre hasn’t been used for a few years, since digitalisation happened, and this was the only one to screen prints before that. We are definitely losing a part of the Kannada film industry’s culture and heritage with the demolition, there is a lot of emotional attachment to this building.”
Sharing his nostalgia is director-screenwriter-actor Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, who says, “Not only was this building famous for the screenings that took place here, there were also film-related seminars and workshops frequently held. It was a hub for art and bridge, as well for low-budget filmmakers.”
90 per cent of films made here have been lost
Due to the lack of initiative to restore and save film archives, 90 per cent of the 3,500 films made here since 1936 have been lost, says Babu, adding that a committee has been formed now that will submit a report to the government on the way forward in saving the heritage of the Kannada film industry. Chandrashekar adds, “Unless there is some effort to archive the industry’s legacy, future generations will never know about its glorious past. The government should take measures to restore the archives, and a museum should be built where they are house.”
Two-storeyed building unique for the time
Prasad says that the building’s distinctive architecture can be seen from the fact that it has two-storeys, something uncommon at the time it was built, and the fact that it is made entirely of stone. Earlier, there was a short compound wall surrounding the building too, which was also made from stone, he says.