Bangalore has many imposing buildings representing different architectural styles. It is amazing that even in the midst of the modern concrete jungle, these buildings have retained their identities. The Town Hall which was built in 1935 is a stone structure in the European classical style.

Also known as the Sir K.P Puttanna Chetty Hall, the Town Hall is the gift of the great philanthropist, Sir K.P Puttanna Chetty, who served as the President of Bangalore city municipality from 1913 to 1920. The foundation stone for this building was laid by the then Maharaja of Mysore, Sri Krishna Rajendra Wodeyar, on March 6, 1933. The building was completed on September 11, 1935 at a cost of Rs 1,75,000/-. It was inaugurated by crown prince Sri Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wodeyar.

The highly strenuous task of making this building was taken up by none other than the beloved and Honorable Dewan of Mysore province, Sir Mirza Ismail, who made this building attractive. His Highness Sri Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wodeyar also provided financial assistance and helped in other ways to complete the Town Hall.

The Town Hall is a stone structure in European Classical Greco-Roman style with a flight of steps leading to the entrance porch resting on Tuscan columns. Identical porches extend on the sides. The main mass is a rectangular block containing an auditorium. The auditorium has two floors with a total capacity of 1,038 seats (ground floor 626, first floor 310 and second floor 102).

There was also a separate entrance for the Maharaja. Teak has been used for all woodwork. The people behind the construction included Government architect Sri S. Lakshminarasappa, Chief Engineers Sri M.G. Rangiah, Sri N.N. Iyengar, Sri A. Thandoni Rao. The contractor of the building was Sri Chikkananjundappa.

The Town Hall unfortunately did not have proper acoustics, gradation, seating arrangement and the stage was too high for front seaters. In 1976, the then Chief Minister Sri Devaraj Urs was in Town Hall as a guest to view a Russian Ballet. He found it very strenuous to get a full view of the show. He finally moved to a seat on the first floor gallery to watch the rest of the show. He instantly ordered the Town Hall to be renovated on modern lines.

Originally the renovation was estimated at Rs.10,00,000/- in 1976. The Public Works Department took its own time and kept on postponing till March 1990, when the building was finally closed for renovation. Then it cost Rs 65 lakhs. The renovated hall has an extended stage situated at a lower level which facilitates better viewing of the events. Both the stage and the catwalk have been rebuilt with teakwood. The seating capacity has been reduced from 1038 to 810.

The Town Hall has become a nodal centre of entertainment, despite the Ravindra Kalakshetra, which is just a stone's throw away. Compared to 1935, Bangalore has not only doubled in its growth and development, but has grown even further. Yet, these drastic changes, western influences and concrete structures have not been able to belittle the glory of the majestic Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall!

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