Fun Galore

Fun Galore


There are only two sets of people. One who say I am forever a Bangalorean and the other who say I love Bangalore all the time! Sounds familiar? They can’t stop talking about Bangalore, its heritage, its culture, its attitude, the people and, last but not the least, the coolness about it. For all the reasons that one wants to crib about Bangalore, there are 10 reasons why one loves it. It embodies the spirit of the city. Whether one has lived here for 40 years or just five years, we are all Bangaloreans.
As we kept talking about the city, top of the mind recall was the clampdown on fun. The last couple of years have seen
some downside to the fun side. We listed down things we crib about. Whether it is the night life (or the lack of it), the dance ban, the music ban, the attack on the pub culture by so-called moral police brigade in the light of the attack on girls at a pub in Mangalore and the rubbish statements that followed, the crumbling infrastructure, and there are several to add to the list. It’s been Ban Galore! But it’s time to put back the good times. We hit upon this idea to put that spirit back into Bangalore. And so we decided to launch a campaign for no matter what happens, we are ‘4ever Bangalorean’. It’s sort of an emotional attachment, and it grows on you to say once in Bangalore, always a Bangalorean.
So what’s happened in the paradise of pensioners? Till the early 1980s, one could play cricket on M G Road and Church Street, and after dark, one could barely see one or two cars pass by as the clock chimed every hour. It was a fun city and still is one, despite the many rumblings that one hears, the bad traffic jams and the clampdown on fun by the suddenly turned moral politicians and policemen.
The first pubs came about in the 1980s. Among the early ones were Ramada, NASA, Urban Edge, Pub World, Underground, Bunkers, Tavern, Downtown, 180 Degrees, Pecos, Night Watchman, Hypnos and many more. Most of them had themes around them. College girls used to bunk classes and go over, hunting for bargains for their mug of beer. Many a time, if they were broke, they could still manage a drink or two at some of these places, and it would hardly cost much.
Ballroom dancing at the clubs, catching a bite at Victoria’s, Koshys, MTR, Hotel Shilton, Hotel Nanking - and the list is endless - were all favourite pastimes for the old timers. And now the Cafe Coffee Days, Baristas, Java Citys, Cafe Mochas and there are so many chilled out places for some time pass.
Bangalore is a foodies’ paradise, and you could go from the cheapest place to the most high funda place. The culturatti, amazing mix of old and new history to the city, the old colonial buildings peacefully coexisting with the glass framed high-rise buildings, and the huge floating population that came into Bangalore all the time. Whether it was the 1980s, 1990s or now, Bangalore has always been a cool weekend trip for people from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi, Wayanad, Mysore, Pune, Mumbai and from the neighbouring districts. Though that tribe of people coming into Bangalore is diminishing, thanks to the 11.30 pm deadline. The green city had a colourful nightlife
and when people
went back, they carried a hangover of Bangalore b e c a u s e they loved the city so much. The flip side of the story is for long the city has been an absolute hang out for junkies. And it is one aspect the police may want to monitor better.
AFFORDABLE LITERATURE
The other thing about Bangalore is its numerous book stores and the affordable literature. The latest books are available on the footpaths of the city. And one would find so many people flipping through the pages of their favourite novel or bestseller all over town, over a cup of coffee.
Theatre has been a tradition with innovative plays, using local indigenous themes, and Kannada plays with Shakespeare and Pinter’s motifs. Girish Karnad, Arundhati Raja, Jagadeesh Raja, Arjun Sajnani, Arundhati Nag, late B V Karanth, Prasanna, B Jayashree are some of the celebrated figures of that world. And not to be left behind are painters Yusuf Arakkal, S G Vasudev, Balan Nambiar, Milind Naik among others, who have had plain fun through their art.
The city has so many youngsters, young thoughts, ready to rebel, ready to say it, and they are uninhibited and are always experimenting, blogging, twittering, they have their bands - all the rock shows should tell us, any rock show always happens in Bangalore - and they are always ready to explore, find something new, have weekend getaways, adventure sports and more.
4ever Bangalorean, the month long campaign, will be a platform for Bangaloreans to re-connect and chill out. It’s all about you being part of this. There will be ways you can do your bit for Bangalore and so hop on and put the fun back in Bangalore. Tell us why you love Bangalore, what is it that you want to see change, and we will give you some view points, there will be some party, some fun, and together let’s get the city back on its feet. Simply fun maadi.