By- Srijita Chakraborty
The Film and Television Institute of India at Pune has succeeded in obtaining its very first patent for creating a new form of auditorium by which any kind of motion picture and performance can be viewed. This has turned out to be a remarkable achievement for the Film and Television Institute of India and an important step forward for the field of theater design.
The idea was developed by Assistant Professor Ranjit Sadakale along with students from the Television Engineering Department of FTII Pune. The students were working to resolve a common problem: how to configure any given space to best function as a cinema theatre and a stage for a live performance.
Normally, the cinema room or stage for drama has different requirements. In the case of a cinema room, the screen and the speakers should be situated at the front for everyone to hear and see clearly. In the case of the stage, it would require sufficient space for people to act. In the past, it would be difficult to design one space to perform all functions with adequate performance and quality of hearing.
The new system uses a special electromechanical setup that can move the screen and speakers forward or backward in about 8–10 seconds. When it moves forward, the space works like a cinema. When it moves back, the same area becomes open for stage plays. This clever design keeps sound quality good while giving performers the room they need.
The patent, which was filed in October 2024, was granted officially on 16 January 2026. It will thus be valid for 20 years under the India Patents Act.
This theatre, being equipped with the new system, had its inauguration for the very first time on 11th January, 2025, at the FTII campus as the union information and broadcasting minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated it.
This is just one instance of the possibilities of technology and creativity merging to create more flexible and innovative spaces with regards to art shows and movies.