Lucknow, June 26 -- The Rai Umanath Bali Auditorium at Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (BSV) is all set to be re-opened in an all-new avatar on Friday. Constructed in 1987 and inaugurated by then chief minister Veer Bahadur Singh, the auditorium was closed for renovation work in August 2020. The new-look auditorium boasts of state-of-the-art lights and sound systems, while seats and curtains have also been refurbished. Besides, a photo gallery with information about former students and renowned faculty members has also been constructed outside the auditorium. "The work has been done by U.P. construction and labour development cooperative union at the cost Rs 381.60 lakh. We have received all necessary approvals, and the auditorium is set for the re-opening," BSV registrar Srishti Dhaon said. "The rent for the auditorium is proposed at around Rs 15,000,and it will be fixed after approval from the university's executive council which is scheduled to meet on Friday," BSV vice-chancellor professor Mandavi Singh said. The auditorium was dedicated to Rai Umanath Bali, a taluqdar of Awadh who gave patronage to various art forms. It houses a guest room and a rehearsal hall called Gulab Bai Kakash, named after famed nautanki actor Gulab Bai. The auditorium has been a witness to several plays, including Suryamohan Kulshreshtha's 'Ramlila' and Urmil Kumar Thapaliyal's 'Yahudi ki Ladki' and festivals like 'Bharat Rang Mahotsav' and 'Lucknow Mahotsav'....