Inside Secunderabad’s new community hub for art and theatre

Secunderabad’s old-world charm gets a cultural boost with Platform 51, a new arts destination in Vikrampuri Colony, Karkhana, bringing music, theatre and art closer to home. Set in a four-decade-old house in a quiet residential neighbourhood, the space is surrounded by trees and retains its architectural character.

It is being reimagined as a multicultural hub with a café, amphitheatre and banquet hall. “Platform 51 will be a community-driven space focused on healing through art forms such as music, pottery and painting,” says co-founder Prerna Kirthi.

For Kriti, Secunderabad is more than a location. At a time when West Hyderabad, with its IT offices and rapid development, is seen as the city’s growth centre, she has consciously chosen to return to her roots. “My biggest inspiration has been my principal, Yogendra Guruwara of Sherwood Public School, who gave me the roots to stay grounded and the wings to fly.

I dream of travelling across the world, but want to return to my roots in Secunderabad.” Platform 51 has been a challenging journey for Prerna, who works at a design college in the city. The idea emerged during a theatre workshop, when she envisioned a café and a space for activities promoting mental and physical well-being.

She leased the property in February 2025, but was left with the financial and operational burden when investors pulled out. Architect and theatre director RK Shenoy eventually stepped in as investor and co-founder. “I wanted to give up, but RK instilled hope,” recalls Prerna.

“Once you're invested in a project, you believe in it and work hard to make it happen. Neither of us knows how to swim, but we took the plunge because I believed in her resolve,” says Shenoy, founder of ARKA Design Studio and Dramanon theatre group.

Renovation began in February this year, with demolition taking three months. Built on rock, the house’s natural elevation lends itself to dramatic, multi-level spaces. Shenoy reused broken tiles, reopened sealed walls and exposed brick to retain the building’s raw texture and architectural character.

The 700-square-feet performance space, with a stage and green room, accommodates 51 people, giving the venue its name. Its 50-cm-thick walls, with exposed brick and textured patterns, act as natural sound diffusers, eliminating the need for microphones.

“Plastic chairs reflect sound, which is why venues use absorbing materials. Here, the walls diffuse sound naturally, making it a space where performers don’t need mics,” says Shenoy. Though not officially open yet, Platform 51 has hosted events, while trial runs help iron out operational issues.

Plays and a Sufi night are also planned. “The objective is to create a space to explore and experiment with art forms and discover meaning in creative ways. The idea is to get people off their phones and into the space,” says Shenoy.