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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
A song that captures the vibe of Bengaluru's Cubbon Park
A young couple walks along a lane in Cubbon Park, each carrying a single long-stemmed rose, shoulders grazing, eyes interlocked, clearly in the courting stage. A few yards away, in the parking lot, a young man wearing silver cufflinks and a barrister's band, is getting into his car while on the lawns beyond, a few older men are in deep siesta, their rhythmic snores interjected by the squeak of bounding squirrels, the caws of crows and the rustle of leaves dancing in the wind. Adjacent to this, at Queen's Park, a young woman in a sari fixes her camera to a stand and begins recording her Bollywood-style dance moves, while tourists convene near the statue of Edward VII aka 'Bertie', their casual jeans, sneakers and backpacks, starkly contrasting with the former king's close-fitting breeches, long cloak and dapper shoes. It is this laidback, eclectic vibe of the park that a recently-released song, 'Cubbon Park', is trying to capture, explains Derek Mathias, who wrote this song last January while on a flight to Nagaland. 'I was on my laptop, and I thought I'd just write something because I hadn't written anything for a while,' says the Bengaluru-based musician and leader of the band, Derek & The Cats, as we settle on one of the benches situated amidst the undulating green of the park, insulated from traffic and the general bustle unfurling around it. The song made him feel ' content and happy… like a Sunday morning.' For Derek, a true-blue Bengalurean and trained classical pianist who began learning to produce and record his music in college, Sunday mornings are also inevitably linked to Cubbon Park. 'I was trying to visualise this Sunday morning feeling, and since I've come here on Sunday mornings, calling it Cubbon Park seemed like a really apt thing. This place has had a positive impact on my life.' 'Cubbon Park', which was released on YouTube on June 1, is an ode to the park, offering an immersive experience of what the city's green lung looks and feels like on a weekend morning. In the video, a live performance of Derek & The Cats at the park is interspersed with footage of trees and lawns, bounding dogs, people playing badminton and frisbee, taking a ride on the toy train or boat, having breakfast at Airlines Hotel, and some regulars offering sound bites about what makes the park special. 'You come to Cubbon Park in the morning, take your dog for a walk, enjoy the space, go to Airlines, relax under that big banyan tree, have masala dosa and coffee and go home,' says Derek. 'That is the full experience…the emotion I wanted to capture.' The journey The band, which consists of Derek on the piano, Adesh Vinod on the guitar, Joel Rozario on percussion, Vishal Varier on bass, Kenneth Besterwitch on drums, Gautam David on saxophone and Anand Murali on keyboard, began working on the music video in March this year. While they had already been playing the song at various venues nationwide, testing and modifying it based on how people responded to the music, Derek wanted to release it only once the video was ready. 'I was particular that it had to come out with a video,' he says, pointing out that since the band makes instrumental music, 'it is hard for someone to just hear a melody, and think, Cubbon Park. We needed to find a way to document it.' Since professional photography is prohibited in Cubbon Park, they had to get creative, using an iPhone 16 Pro, a GoPro, Insta360 and RayBan Meta glasses to document the park over several weekends. 'I am an engineer: jugaad is the way to do things,' he says, with a laugh. They even borrowed Appam, a friend's dog and attached the GoPro to his leash to 'document Cubbon Park through their (dogs') eyes,' he says. In May this year, the band performed at the century-old bandstand in Cubbon Park, which has been revived recently, 'one of the best gigs I've ever played,' admits Derek. Unlike in a regular gig, where the performance takes place in dark, smoky venues at night, this gig occurred early in the morning, he recounts. 'There was greenery, Sunday morning breeze, completely open…it felt so inspiring to perform our music there…such a great way to start the day,' he says. 'We were just really happy.' Derek hopes that 'Cubbon Park', which will be included in the band's second album that will be released in August, will make an impact. 'If a person from Bengaluru watches this video, they should feel nostalgic. And if someone from outside watches the video, they should say 'Wow, this is a place I'd like to go to',' he says. In his opinion, people do not know enough about Bengaluru, and he hopes the song will help change this. 'We are a Bengaluru band, and if a band from Bengaluru doesn't spread its culture, who will?' he asks. 'Most of us in the band are born and raised here, so it has to be us.' You can listen to Cubbon Park at
Mint
21-06-2025
- Mint
Hemamalini Maiya of MTR Restaurants sees herself as a custodian of stories
You can't imagine it ever being quiet or empty, but on a weekday afternoon, the 100-year-old MTR Restaurant near Bengaluru's Lalbagh is especially loud and lively. Outside the steps leading into the restaurant, an ecosystem of small businesses has sprung up over the years—flower sellers, newspaper vendors, a fruit seller or two—all targeting customers streaming in for their evening vada and coffee. 'They are part of the MTR family," says Hemamalini Maiya, 52, managing partner, MTR Restaurants, as she leads me inside. I have been to MTR before, of course—you can't call yourself a Bengalurean unless you have stepped in here, bleary eyed after a morning walk in Lalbagh or exhausted from an appointment at the nearby Regional Passport Office, and wolfed down some tiffin with filter coffee so strong you can wrestle it—but this time, Maiya leads me to parts unseen. We walk through the small ground floor rooms, all filled with patrons, past a section of the kitchen where huge vats of sambar are boiling away, up a narrow flight of stairs and on to the first floor, where Maiya leads me through a warren of small rooms, all being put to full use during the rush hour, to her office. 'You would never have been able to find it on your own," says Maiya, laughing, as she places an order for khara bhath (aka upma) and coffee for us. One of Maiya's earliest memories is of walking down to the restaurant with her siblings after catching a movie at the nearby Urvashi Theatre, sitting in one of these small, semi-secret rooms behind the kitchen, and having her favourite rava idli. 'When I eat rava idli even today, I go back in time. It was my favourite dish, followed by 'Fruit Mixture'," she recalls, referring to an MTR innovation—fruit salad topped with almond milk-flavoured ice cream and toppings like paan-flavoured jelly, pomegranate and grapes. Stories about Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR), the iconic Bengaluru-based restaurant chain, are the stuff of legend; intricately woven with the history of the city and—in an almost Forrest Gump way—the world. Maiya is the third-generation custodian of the company, along with siblings Vikram and Arvind, founded by her great uncle Parampalli Yagnanarayana Maiya and his brothers in the year 1924, when they migrated to Bengaluru from coastal Karnataka to fill a growing need for clean, home-like food in the city. There's the one about how MTR invented the rava idli—it was during World War II, when there was a shortage of rice because of the Japanese invasion of Burma (now Myanmar), and Yagnanarayana Maiya, one of the founders, asked the kitchen staff to try making idlis with semolina instead, mixing it with curd and baking soda for faster fermentation. It became a hit, and eventually made its way to the menus of Udupi cafes and restaurants around the world, of which you could say MTR is the OG. Then there's the Chandrahara, a flaky, layered pastry fried in ghee, that was inspired by Yagnanarayana's travels in Europe. 'My grand-uncle travelled to London and Paris in 1951, and he went around looking at restaurants, absorbing a lot of their processes, their food. He was really taken with French pastry-making techniques and decided to try out a sweetmeat inspired by that… he called it 'French Sweet'," recalls Maiya. 'Sadly, it didn't take off. Yagnappa, as he was fondly called by everyone, was disappointed. Then he had a brainwave. There was a hit Kannada film in theatres called Chandrahara, and he decided to name the sweet after that. Overnight, it was a hit," says Maiya. Most south Indian eateries stick to a limited, tried and tested menu: there are a variety of idlis and dosas, a bunch of upmas, like khara bhath and the slightly fancier vermicelli upma (shavige bhath), pongal, crispy vadas and a halwa for dessert. The ones that do lunch and dinner—and not just 'tiffin"—offer a standard thali. While MTR does all this and more, the legacy of the company has been built on innovation, be it the unusual desserts on its menu or creating packaged, ready-to-eat foods, which was the speciality of MTR Foods, a subsidiary of the company created in 1975 during the Emergency, when state control over restaurants made the business less profitable. Managed by a different part of the Maiya family, MTR Foods eventually broke away to become an independent business entity and was sold to the Orkla Group, a Norwegian business conglomerate, in 2007. Yet, even today, people confuse the two, says Maiya. 'It is part of our complicated legacy. Recently, when there were rumours that Orkla was selling MTR Foods to an Indian FMCG company, media reports carried photos of MTR restaurants," she says, wryly. 'Actually, what bothers me more is when our old-timers, people who have been coming to the restaurant twice a day every day for 40 years, walk up to me and say 'amma, why are you selling the business?' I realise that this place is like a second home to them, and they don't want any changes." Maiya started managing the business in her late 20s after studying engineering at the BMS College of Engineering in Bengaluru. She was planning to go abroad for a masters' degree when life took an unexpected turn. Her father, Harishchandra, who was in charge, was not well, and her brother, who was supposed to take charge of MTR, changed his mind almost overnight about stepping into the role. 'He got cold feet—you could say literally, because our father's shoes were too big to fill. So dad told me 'hey do the best you can' and I stepped in, just like that. There was no planning, no preparation—I just walked into MTR, and that's how my journey began," recalls Maiya. Today, all three of her siblings are involved in the business in various capacities, though she has been calling the shots for over 25 years—a tough act for a woman in a heavily male-dominated industry where most employees, from line cooks to the servers, are men. 'Initially, I think, people were too bemused to react. They thought this was a temporary situation and I'd get married and go away. I earned their trust day by day," says Maiya, who is single. Maiya has added many landmarks to the business. It was a single, stand-alone restaurant when she joined the company, which she helped expand to 17 locations, most in Karnataka and several outside India, in cities like Singapore, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and London. Most of the new restaurants are called MTR 1924 and feature modern interiors and posher seating, though the menus remain largely the same. In the immediate future, the brand has plans to expand internationally and is looking at the US, Australia and a few locations in South-East Asia. Work on expanding to at least two international locations this year is going on behind the scenes, Maiya says. When asked why they are not looking to expand within India, she says a bit evasively: 'The logistics of it are we don't want to franchise. We want to run the restaurants ourselves and we are stretched as it is. Abroad, having a huge Indian diaspora helps." Along with expansions, another decision that reaped benefits for the restaurant was joining food delivery platforms early in their trajectory—in a meeting for this column with a Swiggy co-founder, he had mentioned that MTR joining the platform as it was expanding was a big morale boost for the then-fledgling startup. Maiya says it was a conscious decision to move with the times—back then, most traditional eateries serving south Indian food were reluctant to join the delivery game. 'So, we were not convinced initially, especially because we didn't want the hassle in the main restaurant, which is already very busy. But then we realised that delivery was going to be a big factor in sales, so we said we won't touch the main restaurant but we will partner through the other branches," says Maiya. 'And I am glad we did because delivery has changed the game. We see that on the business side also. There is a good percentage (of revenue) that delivery brings in. I think it's to do with how the world has evolved. There's more ordering in, and for youngsters especially, going to a restaurant is a special occasion. For functional meals, they would rather order in," she adds, providing a sharp insight into the way different generations approach eating out—for the core, older generation of patrons at MTR, it is the sense of community that brings them in, while for younger folks, eating out is worth it only if you can talk about it on Instagram. She did stick to her guns about not going the multi-cuisine way, even when a lot of older eateries were doing so, introducing Indo-Chinese and north-Indian dishes into their menus. 'It's easy to succumb to that because the margins are higher. I mean, a bowl of north Indian curry—probably the cost price would be less than making a dosa," she says. 'You make the same base curry and add different things to it—sure, I can see the economics of it. But that would dilute our brand. No, we would never do that," she says firmly. A couple of months ago, Maiya and her siblings decided to look back at MTR's journey in a more meaningful way, even as they are in the process of figuring out the company's succession while being very clear that it will stay with the family. 'As we were nearing the 100-year mark, I realised how much we were losing along the way… how many stories were untold as employees, customers, well-wishers passed away," says Maiya. To commemorate the anniversary, she commissioned a coffee-table book called The MTR Story: A Labour of Love. Written by Pratima Chabbi, a former restaurant industry executive turned writer, the book is based on interviews with the Maiya family, restaurant staff, vendors, patrons and even those employed in the informal economy that thrives outside the restaurant. 'I feel like my job is to hold on to this story, you know, but also take it forward. That's always on my mind," says Maiya.
New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Chennai's performance space witnesses a new generation
Now the event — being organised by Do With Lit in collaboration with GenS Life, a cultural community known for its open mics and cultural events across India — comes to Chennai. 'Open mics are typically attended by people between 18 and 30 years,' says Vishwas, founder of Do With Lit. 'But we noticed that seniors, too, want to experience the joy, showcase their passion and get on the stage.' On choosing Chennai as their second outing, he says, 'We usually conduct a lot of our events in cities like Bangalore and Chennai. Chennai has a dedicated crowd for our open mics, and the responses have always been great and encouraging. So we decided to have the Senior Spotlight's second edition in Chennai,' says Vishwas, a Bengalurean by birth, a Chennaite by heart. For Vishwas and his team, the realisation hit during one of their regular open mics, when a few senior participants performed eagerly among an intergenerational audience. 'They performed really well,' Vishwas recalls. 'But they were also slightly hesitant as they felt a little out of place. When we asked what made them attend the event, they said they were looking for a platform.'
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Nikhil Chinapa on RCB's long-awaited IPL win: ‘To see them lift the trophy is an indescribable emotion'
For DJ, VJ, and die-hard Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fan Nikhil Chinapa, the celebrations on Monday night weren't just about cricket — they were 18 years of emotions bursting out in one glorious, unforgettable moment. RCB's historic win in the IPL 2025 final brought out the proud Bengalurean in him, as he watched his team finally lift the elusive trophy. 'I have been a fan since IPL started and have lived each and every moment. I have gone through heartbreaks, the highs and the lows and just like every other RCB fan, felt the pain of waiting to see the team lift the trophy for over 18 years. Although, as I have written on my social media as well, I have seen the women's team lift the trophy, but this feeling is slightly different,' he says. 'To see Virat, along with ABD (AB deVilliers) and Chris (Gayle) and the rest of the team lift the IPL trophy is an absolutely indescribable emotion right now, because it means so much for all of us. It is just surreal, I would say,' he adds. RCB clinched their first IPL title in a thrilling final against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, edging out their opponents by six runs. After posting 190/9 on the board. RCB's bowlers stepped up under pressure. Punjab threatened to chase it down but faltered in the final overs, finishing at 184/7. Nikhil, like countless others, took to social media to express his joy. He posted celebratory pictures wearing the RCB jersey and even shared a nostalgic video featuring himself and comedian Danish Sait, revisiting a fun RCB anthem they had created nine years ago. For him, this win wasn't just about cricket — it was about validation for a fan base that's stood by their team for nearly two decades. A post shared by Nikhil Chinapa (@nikhilchinapa) 'I mean RCB fans are special, and I am not saying fans of any other franchise are any less, but just the fact that every season, they turn up with so much of hope that every season is going to be theirs… I know a lot of people say that RCB has fans because of Virat Kohli, but I think it's quite opposite to that,' he says. 'Of course Virat Kohli is one of the most special players India has seen, but… I personally, am a bigger fan of ABD than Virat. And to see ABD with Virat and then Chris Gayle also lift the trophy was an extremely special feeling,' he adds.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
As RCB lifted trophy, Bengaluru forgot its sleep
Deepavali came to Bengaluru early. Almost everyone in Bengaluru, breaking language or any other barrier they may have otherwise had, came together to celebrate a night of glory on June 3 as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the city's beloved cricket team, lifted their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy in its 18th year in Ahmedabad. As the match ended around 11.30 p.m., celebrations began on the streets, and in the skies. Firecrackers kept everyone awake in every area from the time the final ball was bowled and continued throughout the night. The celebrations went on till 4 a.m. in most places, with many even gathering near the M. Chinnaswamy stadium in the wee hours. On the streets, the celebrations were equal parts happy and rowdy, as in some areas, even ambulances had to struggle to make their way through the crowds that had gathered. From asking lorry drivers to perform a celebratory honk to autorickshaws spinning on the road like in a video game, the city was gripped in a frenzy. 'It was such a beautiful thing to see everyone united in celebration. All the people from my apartment stood in their balconies and started shouting 'Ee sale cup Namde!' and 'RCB ge Jai' (all hail RCB) waving the team's flag soon after the match ended, and no one was complaining, which would not have been the case if it were any other event,' said Aarathi P., a resident of Vajarahalli. 'As a Bengalurean, I could understand the sentiment behind the people on the streets. But I saw that some of them were forcing people to get down from their vehicles and dance. There were also people getting drunk on the main roads and throwing bottles, two-way traffic on one-way streets, and even an ambulance which was stuck due to all the hysteria. The celebrations were expected, and the preparations from the law-keepers should have been better,' said Satwik N., a resident of Jalahalli.
