A successful stage production needs more than a large hall. The venue must support scenery changes, lighting cues, sound reinforcement, performer movement, rehearsals, audience management and regulatory compliance.
Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi is one of India’s best-known proscenium performance venues. Established in 1971 and managed by the Bharatiya Kala Kendra Trust, it has hosted major theatre, classical and contemporary dance, music and international cultural productions.
Its central Mandi House location, 625-seat capacity, large wooden stage, flying system, professional sound and lighting infrastructure and supporting performance spaces make it particularly relevant for theatrical productions, dance festivals, concerts, institutional programs and recorded stage performances.
Location and Accessibility
Kamani Auditorium
1, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi – 110001
The auditorium is located in Delhi’s Mandi House cultural district, near several theatres, arts institutions, rehearsal spaces and government offices.
According to the venue, Mandi House Metro Station is approximately a five-minute walk away. The interchange station connects the Blue and Violet lines, making the venue accessible from several parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region.
New Delhi Railway Station is comparatively close, while Indira Gandhi International Airport requires additional travel time depending on traffic. For artists and technical teams carrying costumes, instruments or production equipment, dedicated vehicles are advisable.
Parking within the premises requires prior management consent. Organisers should identify separate drop-off, VIP movement, equipment unloading and audience-parking arrangements before announcing the event.
Auditorium Capacity and Stage
Kamani Auditorium has a fixed seating capacity of 625 spectators, divided into:
- Stalls: 484 seats
- Balcony: 141 seats
No additional seating is permitted. The booking party must also note that 15 seats are reserved for auditorium management and are not available for ticket sale or complimentary allocation.
The stage has a wooden floor and measures approximately:
- Width: 55 feet
- Depth: 51 feet
- Upper height: more than 46 feet
The stage installation includes 20 flying bars, including trusses, front-of-house positions, ladders, tormentors and vertical lighting positions. This makes the venue suitable for plays, ballets and dance productions requiring scenery changes or advanced lighting designs. Official venue specifications
Heavy or elaborate scenery requires written approval. Requests involving significant alteration, stage loading or movement of existing stage properties should be submitted when booking or at least one month before the performance.
Sound, Lighting and Backstage Facilities
The auditorium’s installed sound system includes JBL speakers, Crown amplification and a DiGiCo S21 24-channel mixer. The lighting setup includes PARs, profiles, Fresnels and PC fixtures controlled through a computerised soft-patching system and an Avolites Arena console.
Show hire includes:
- Use of the standard sound system
- Standard installed lighting
- Up to nine corded microphones
- Three hours of air-conditioning
- Main auditorium and stage access for the booked session
- Backstage and green-room access as applicable
Additional specialist microphones and intelligent lighting fixtures may be hired from the venue. The official technical-download page provides the sound-equipment list, stage plan, lighting plan, seating plan, green-room layout and cross-section drawings.
Organisers wishing to add external sound or lighting must obtain written approval at least 15 days before the show and use an approved supplier. The venue’s terms state that mixing the installed and external sound systems is not permitted.
Suitable Productions
Kamani Auditorium is particularly suitable for:
- Theatre and dramatic productions
- Classical and contemporary dance
- Ballet
- Musical performances
- Chamber and cultural concerts
- Poetry, literary and spoken-word programmers
- School or institutional stage productions
- Award ceremonies
- Cultural festivals
- Recorded or live-streamed stage performances
- Web-series or film scenes requiring an authentic auditorium
The published tariff is designed for shows, rehearsals and events. A production seeking to use the auditorium solely as a film or web-series location should request written permission and a customised quotation.
Standalone film-shoot rental: Price on request.
Filming an already-booked performance may also require separate approval for camera positions, tripods, cable routing, audience consent, recording rights and additional electrical load.
Main Auditorium Hire Charges
The current public booking form is effective from 1 January 2025. A separate form effective from 1 January 2027 is already displayed for future bookings, but it should not be applied to performances taking place during 2026.
Show or event charges
These rates include one performance and three hours of air-conditioning:
| Session | Monday–Thursday | Friday–Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Morning, 9:00 AM–1:30 PM | ₹65,000 | ₹70,000 |
| Evening, 2:30 PM–10:00 PM | ₹90,000 | ₹1,07,500 |
Rehearsal or setup without AC
| Session | Charge |
|---|---|
| Morning, 9:00 AM–1:30 PM | ₹50,000 |
| Evening, 2:30 PM–10:00 PM | ₹75,000 |
Other published charges include:
- Morning retention without AC: ₹40,000
- Night setup or dismantling, 11:00 PM–6:00 AM: ₹50,000
- Additional evening performance: ₹32,000
- Additional hall and green-room use: ₹12,000 per hour
- Additional air-conditioning: ₹8,000 per hour
- AGM supplement: ₹12,000
Performances cannot continue beyond 10:00 PM under the stated Delhi rules. Setup or dismantling outside normal hours requires written consent and additional payment.
See the official 2026-applicable booking form and tariff.
Equipment and Ancillary Charges
Selected additional charges are:
| Facility | Charge |
|---|---|
| External sound-system connection | ₹8,000 |
| Standard corded microphone beyond nine | ₹300 each |
| Cordless microphone | ₹1,500 each |
| 10,000-lumen projector | ₹15,000 |
| External light connection/use | ₹300 per light |
| LED-wall connection | ₹7,000 |
| Side-area use | ₹16,000 |
| Foyer use beyond two tables | ₹6,000 |
| Mezzanine/cafeteria area | ₹6,000 |
| External caterer | ₹9,000 |
| External-generator connection | ₹4,000 |
| Venue generator for full show | ₹10,000 per hour |
| Damage recovery | At actual cost |
The front driveway is not normally available for commercial stalls. If the management permits a small counter at the designated side of the entrance, the published charge is ₹3,000 per day.
Final billing is based on actual facility use and rates prevailing on the show date. Applicable taxes are additional.
Open-Air Arena Alternative
The complex also has a 19,500-square-foot Open-Air Arena for concerts, folk and contemporary performances, workshops, rehearsals, institutional programmes, festivals and public cultural gatherings.
Its tariff effective from 1 April 2026 lists:
- Package 1—stage and front lawn: ₹75,000
- Package 2—entire lawn area: ₹1,00,000
The open-air venue may suit performances requiring flexible audience or activity zones, but organizers must plan for weather, noise restrictions, temporary seating, electricity, security and rain contingencies. Refer to the official Open-Air Arena booking form.
A smaller basement space, Jhankar Hall, is also available for rehearsals, readings, workshops, seminars, screenings and intimate performances. It contains a raised wooden platform measuring approximately 15 feet 4 inches by 12 feet 2 inches.
Advance, Security Deposit and Cancellation
A completed booking form must initially be submitted with 50% of the total amount, including applicable taxes and security. Confirmation is generally issued within seven days.
The balance 50% and refundable security must be deposited at least 90 days before the show. If booking takes place less than 90 days before the event, full payment, taxes and security are payable when booking.
The public rate schedule lists refundable security deposits of ₹30,000 and ₹20,000, but the extracted copy does not clearly identify which booking category corresponds to each amount. Confirm the applicable deposit with the reservation office.
Cancellation charges are calculated against the booking amount:
| Notice before show | Cancellation charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days | 100% |
| 31–60 days | 60% |
| 61–90 days | 45% |
| 91–120 days | 30% |
| More than 121 days | 20% |
Postponement, preponement and date transfer are treated as cancellation. Dates cannot be transferred directly to another organisation.
Licences, NOCs and Permissions
The hirer is responsible for obtaining applicable permissions. The published terms require:
- Police Clearance Certificate through Delhi Police licensing
- Performance License submitted to the venue at least three days before the show
- Applicable entertainment-tax/GST NOC
- Written intimation or permission from Tilak Marg Police Station
- IPRS or other copyright licence when protected music or works are used
- Municipal or other statutory approvals where applicable
Open flames, firecrackers, firearms and hazardous stage activities are prohibited. All sets and props must be fire-resistant or appropriately treated.
A recorded performance may additionally require artist releases, music synchronisation rights, playwright or publisher permission, audience notices and union or contractual clearances.
Booking Procedure
- Check the official availability calendar.
- Download the correct booking form for the performance year.
- Submit organisation, PAN, GST and representative details.
- Describe the performance and ticketing arrangement.
- Reserve rehearsal, setup, show and dismantling sessions.
- Provide technical requirements and stage plans.
- Pay the required booking advance.
- Apply for police, performance, tax and copyright clearances.
- Submit special-set and external-equipment requests within the prescribed period.
- Reconfirm the final timetable and authorised production contacts.
The online calendar displays availability for approximately four months. Contact the office for later dates.
Verified Booking Contact
Kamani Auditorium
1, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi – 110001
Telephone:
+91 11 4350 3351
+91 11 4350 3352
+91 11 4350 3353
Email: info@kamaniauditorium.org
Website: Kamani Auditorium
Availability: Check dates
Forms and plans: Booking documents
Published enquiry hours are 9:00 AM–8:00 PM, seven days a week.
Accommodation and Transport Notes
Mandi House, Connaught Place, Bengali Market and central Delhi offer hotels and guest houses across several budgets. Accommodation near a Metro station can reduce artist and crew movement problems.
Production vehicles should arrive well before the public entry time. Confirm loading access, vehicle size restrictions and temporary parking. For large sets, prepare a measured load-in plan using the venue’s technical drawings.
Practical Advantages and Limitations
Advantages
- Prestigious central-Delhi location
- 625-seat proscenium auditorium
- Large wooden stage and flying system
- Professional installed sound and lighting
- Public availability calendar
- Separate rehearsal, setup and retention sessions
- Open-Air Arena and smaller Jhankar Hall alternatives
Limitations
- Strict 10:00 PM performance deadline
- Standalone filming needs customised approval
- Limited on-site parking
- External technical suppliers are restricted
- Several statutory licenses are the organiser’s responsibility
- Weekend evening rates are significantly higher
- Cancellation charges are substantial
Producer’s Checklist
- Correct annual booking form
- Confirmed show and rehearsal sessions
- Stage, lighting and sound plots
- Set dimensions and load calculations
- Fire-proofing certificates
- Camera and cable-routing plan
- Artist, music and recording rights
- Delhi Police Performance License
- Entertainment-tax/GST documentation
- Audience and front-of-house plan
- Transport and unloading schedule
- Tax-inclusive quotation
- Security-deposit confirmation
- Cancellation and overtime calculation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 evening-show charge?
Monday to Thursday evenings are listed at ₹90,000. Friday to Sunday evenings are ₹1,07,500, before applicable taxes and extras.
Is air-conditioning included?
Three hours of AC are included with show hire. Additional use costs ₹8,000 per hour.
Can a film or web series shoot inside Kamani Auditorium?
Potentially, but the published tariff is for performances and events. A shoot-only booking requires prior approval and a customised quotation.
Can an external sound system be installed?
Only with prior written approval and through an approved supplier. A connection charge applies, and mixing it with the house system is not permitted.
How far in advance can the venue be booked?
The terms allow bookings up to 12 months ahead, with longer periods considered at management’s discretion.
Are food and drinks allowed inside the auditorium?
No. Catering is restricted to approved external areas, the cafeteria or other spaces authorised by management.
Accuracy Disclaimer
Rates, contacts and booking conditions were checked against Kamani Auditorium’s official website and current booking documents on 21 September 2026. The venue states that rates applicable on the actual show date will be charged. Obtain a written confirmation covering taxes, security deposit, equipment, filming permission and statutory licenses before advertising or paying production expenses.
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