After six years, Cubbon Park to resonate with music
Revived with the support of the Horticulture and Kannada and Culture departments, the events will be held every Sunday at the Bandstand. Each session will feature a mix of performances, including a Carnatic concert, Bharatanatyam recital and choral singing, offering visitors a cultural treat.
The Kannada and Culture Department has earmarked Rs 15 lakh for Udayaraga. The programmes, which had been suspended just before Covid, will continue throughout the year.
While the immediate focus is on classical music and dance, plans are under way to gradually introduce bhavageethe, sugama sangeeta, contemporary music and provide a stage for emerging artistes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
22 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
Coolie Box Office Collections: Rajnikanth starrer tops 300 crore worldwide in three days
Coolie scored another big day at the Indian box office on Saturday, amassing Rs. 47 crore approx. With that, the three-day box office cume for the Rajnikanth starrer has reached Rs. 186 crore approx. The film is on course to collect over Rs. 225 crore during its four-day extended weekend. Additionally, the film has grossed USD 14.75 million (Rs. 129 crore) internationally, topping the Rs. 300 crore gross mark worldwide, with Rs. 315 crore approx as of yesterday. The Day Wise Box Office Collections of Coolie in India are as follows: Normally, South Indian films ease off quite a bit from the opening day and then make gains over the weekend. However, in the case of Coolie, it had a big holiday on the second day and another one on Saturday, which kept the collections elevated on days two and three. This means that Sunday won't see the normal surge; in fact, going by the pre-sales, it will see a dip in collections today. The film has performed strongly across the board, with home state grossing a fantastic Rs. 75.50 crore in three days, the third-highest ever behind Leo and The GOAT. The Telugu states have earned nearly Rs. 44 crore so far despite facing a big clash with War 2. Karnataka and Kerala have put up big numbers, but the hold on the third day could have been better, especially in the latter. In all, the film is going to put very big numbers over its extended weekend despite having mixed reports, thanks to the big start and holiday support. Where the film lands on Monday will determine where the film will rank amongst the biggest grosser of the industry. The Territorial Breakdown for Coolie in India is as follows:
India Today
36 minutes ago
- India Today
How Coolie fever gripped India 40 years ago, a hit Bachchan delivered a superhit
The OG Coolie came in red uniform with a pet falcon, and that was over 40 years ago. With Rajinikanth's Coolie hitting the screens on August 14, fans are queuing up in anticipation and spending thousands on just one movie ticket. It was a similar frenzy over four decades ago, in December 1983, when Amitabh Bachchan's Coolie was released. Fans of the "angry young man" turned theatres into because Amitabh Bachchan's Coolie was more than a movie; it became a national event, a moment when the lines between cinema and life blurred. Bachchan faced a near-fatal accident while shooting a fight sequence for the film with Puneet "injury became a national talking point. For many days, newspapers carried his health report on the front page," writes author-journalist Avijit Ghosh in his book When Ardh Satya met Himmatwala, a book on Hindi cinema of the 80s. "For several weeks, Bachchan's life hung by the thinnest of threads. India prayed," writes from across the country prayed for Bachchan's recovery. Its release turned theatres into temples."I as a school-going kid, watched Coolie [1983] with my parents at the Model Cinema in the old-walled city of Ahmedabad. Fully housefull shows for many-many weeks," Ahmedabad-based chartered accountant and wildlife photographer, Vishal Dave, posted on has been the craze for Bachchan's character of Iqbal Aslam Khan that the Coolies in Kanpur, as of 2012, have celebrated Big B's birthday every year since the film's release in December 1983, reported news agency ANI in was among the only 13 films which crossed the Rs 1-crore mark in any major territory, the India Today Magazine reported, quoting trade sources, in May 1984, months after the movie's release. When Coolie went past its jubilee week in Bombay (now Mumbai), it was poised to begin its run in the interior areas, it was still earning around Rs 7 lakh per month in the erstwhile state, it was made on a budget of Rs 3.5 crore and grossed Rs 21 crore, according to reports. The film made crores from the sale of its distribution rights even before its release. The distributors began sharing profits with the makers, reported India Today Magazine in frenzy around Rajinikanth's 2025 Coolie, which has minted Rs 119 crore in the first two days, has inevitably brought the spotlight back on the OG Coolie. Amitabh Bachchan's Coolie remains a film that, even after four decades, retains its unmatched pull and only Coolie film India will ever have, Amitabh Bachchan. That red kurta, that 786 badge, that aura. He was a pure legend," wrote a Big B fan on X, while sharing the poster of the 1983 Rajinikanth's 2025-Coolie moment, it's worth revisiting how Amitabh Bachchan's accident turned anticipation for a film into a nationwide vigil, with fans praying for his recovery. When Coolie was finally released in 1983, the outpouring of love was visible in packed shows across cities and hinterlands alike, as theatres went houseful for weeks on BACHCHAN'S ACCIDENT ON COOLIE SETThe accident occurred in July 1982 during a high-energy action sequence in Bengaluru for the Manmohan Desai-Bachchan collaboration. Desai, one of the directors, had made 12 films, each of which saw a jubilee run. The stakes were high, and Bachchan was loved by was performing a jump with co-star Puneet Issar when, at a fleeting moment, the choreography went tragically wrong. He was meant to fall onto a table and then to the ground, but during the fight scene, he hit the table's was struck in the abdomen with tremendous force. He lost consciousness immediately and was rushed to St Philomena's Hospital in was brought to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. During the fight scene, Amitabh Bachchan was supposed to land on a table and then on the ground, but he struck the table's corner instead. (Image: File) At one point, doctors declared him clinically dead. Only the timely injection of adrenaline brought him back, saving a life that had become almost mythic to India, fear and concern gripped fans of all ages. People wrote letters in their own blood, pleading for his recovery. The emotional investment of the public in his survival was extraordinary, bordering on BACHCHAN'S ICU STAY AND RETURN OF COOLIE HEROAfter weeks of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and multiple surgeries, Amitabh slowly edged back from the brink. Nearly two months later, on September 24, 1982, he made a public appearance in what was then Bombay and now sight of him alive, standing before his fans, brought immense relief and joy. His return became more than a personal recovery; it was an inspiration for millions across the incident also changed the course of Coolie original climax had envisioned Amitabh's character, Iqbal, dying. After the accident, the filmmakers altered the narrative. Iqbal lived. Two months after the injury, Amitabh Bachchan made a public appearance in Mumbai. (Image: India Today) In the final cut of the film, the footage of the accident was retained. The scene is frozen at the exact moment of the injury, with a caption acknowledging that it was the point where Bachchan was nation's anticipation for Coolie in theatres must have been apparent to the filmmakers and the actors because of just one incident. That was when a lakh people came to see Bachchan as shooting resumed after his Ghosh describes the scene at Reclamation Ground in Bombay (now Mumbai) six months after the injury in his book, quoting from the biography of Rishi Kapoor, Bachchan's co-star in Coolie."Over one lakh people turned up for the shoot and local dadas had to be requisitioned for the bandobast as it was beyond the means of the police. I still remember the charged atmosphere every time Amitabh stepped out into the open and the crowd let out a roar, the likes of which I hadn't heard before," recalled OF COOLIE IN 1983 AND ITS BOX OFFICE SUCCESSWhen the film finally released on December 2, 1983, it was received not merely as entertainment, but as a story of hope, survival, and the remarkable bond between an actor and his Amitabh Bachchan's accident turning Coolie into a national event, the film's box office journey unfolded against an industry in crisis."Commercial films, big and small, were falling like nine-pins against pressure from video on one hand, and the industry's own weaknesses on the other," noted India Today in May 1984. The magazine added that the video cassette boom had crippled overseas markets too. Coolie was a hit among the 'flm-pirates' movie's songs added another layer to its appeal. Laxmikant Pyarelal's music, combined with Anand Bakshi's lyrics, created tracks that lingered in memory long after the credits like 'Dunia ka Bojh' and 'Tumse Milke Accha Laga' were chartbusters, capturing both the vibrancy of the story and the emotional undercurrents of the Coolie even saw 'the falcon', which wasn't just a prop. It was a symbol of destiny and divine intervention, which saved Iqbal at turning points in the story. Coolie of 1983 didn't have just Amitabh Bachchan, but also his falcon, Allarakha. The bird, which flapped its way into all critical moments in the film, was introduced by the director, Manmohan Desai, was Desai's nephew, the 22-year-old Danny Desai, a "special effects wizard", who created the mechanical falcon and designed its radio-controlled flight paths, according to the India Today magazine film went on to become the highest-grossing Bollywood movie of 1983, selling an estimated 70 million tickets."Coolie, with a rare Muslim protagonist in a mainstream film, and loaded with religious references became a box office sensation," writes Ghosh in his book on 80s Hindi cinema. "Burqawalis have patronised Coolie in a big way," he quotes Manmohan Desai as saying from Film Information of January 14, success was as much about its narrative, the iconic performances, and unforgettable songs as it was about the public's admiration for Amitabh's two leading men of Coolie then and now, Bacchan and Rajinikanth, have joined forces in cinema multiple times. They first collaborated in Andhaa Kaanoon (1983), marking Rajinikanth's Bollywood debut with Bachchan in a special appearance, then in Geraftaar (1985) and Hum (1991), where Rajinikanth played a supporting over three decades, they reunited for the Tamil film Vettaiyan (2024), with Rajinikanth as a police officer and Bachchan making his Tamil Coolie, the accident, recovery and the release of the film remains one of the most extraordinary chapters in Indian cinema. Today, as Rajinikanth's Coolie is being screened, with its own songs, stunts, and spectacle, it serves as a reminder of that extraordinary moment, when cinema and life converged, and the nation held its breath for its superstar. A frenzy over Coolie played out in theatres over 40 years ago.- EndsTune InTrending Reel
India Today
37 minutes ago
- India Today
How relevant is vinyl in the times of Spotify? Hint: Very
Music is everywhere now. You wake up to Alexa setting the mood as you get ready. On your commute, Spotify keeps your ears - and heart - happy with good tunes. At work, when you're not in a meeting, streaming apps and YouTube help you stay in the zone, shutting out distractions and the office music is just a command or a few taps away - a reality Gen Z and Gen Alpha have grown up wait. In this era of effortless listening, imagine taking the time to visit a vinyl record store, flipping through stacks of albums, placing each one on a turntable to listen patiently, discovering new music, and only then making a purchase. Well, vinyl is back. Behind its resurgence are young music enthusiasts who grew up listening to music on streaming apps and voice sales soarA staple in Indian households in the '60s, vinyl eventually gave way to cassette players, CD players, iPods, and, later, streaming platforms. It's making its way back - not on the nostalgia of older generations, but powered by a youth that craves immersive experiences in an age when everything is on screens, from books and work to entertainment and saturated, this generation is turning to analog media for moments that offer a real break from their always-on, online lives.'Sixty per cent of the visitors each day we have at our store are first-timers, mostly in their 20s,' says Abhay Panwar, owner of Pagal Records Store in Delhi's Hauz Khas. Happy customers at Pagal Record Store in Delhi's Hauz Khas. (Photos: Instagram/PagalRecords) The store, run by Panwar, a former loyalist who couldn't imagine the city without it, was originally set up by Joe, an Italian vinyl enthusiast. It became a hidden gem for music lovers and record collectors. But when Joe decided to return to Italy, Panwar stepped in to take over, determined to keep the legacy alive.'I was always close to the store even before I took over last year - I would visit often, knew the staff, got insights, and even learned how to play records there. So I knew how sales were then and how they are now. Before Covid, sales were very good. They dropped during and after Covid, but they're picking up significantly again now,' Panwar tells India Today. Digitally saturated, this generation is turning to analogue media for moments that offer a real break from their always-on, online lives. (Photo: Pexels) The surge in sales of vinyl records and turntables is both online and offline, around the world.'Record sales have grown year-on-year, especially post-pandemic, when people began investing more in home entertainment. Globally, the vinyl market is expanding even more rapidly, with market size estimates ranging from USD 1.8 billion to over USD 2.1 billion in the mid-2020s, and projections of up to USD 4.5 billion by the end of the decade,' adds Jude de Souza, the owner of the popular The Revolver Club in Mumbai.E-commerce platform Amazon India also admits to witnessing a rise in sales of vinyl record players.'We have seen double-digit growth, year-on-year, in demand across products such as the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X Stereo Turntable and the Claw Stag Portable Vinyl Record Player Turntable. While many customers still prefer built-in speaker models for their ease and value, others are increasingly opting for premium options with additional features such as USB and Bluetooth connectivity,' Zeba Khan, Director, Consumer Electronics, Amazon India, tells India what's behind the riseadvertisementYes, the warmth of analogue sound is one reason. But there's more to it. Listening to music on vinyl is a deeply personal experience - more engrossing, more immersive - and it demands your full attention. It turns music from a mere background filler into the true centrepiece of your time and the fast-paced world, vinyl gives you a taste of slow life.52-year-old Kamalinee Chatterjee, who grew up listening to vinyl at home, describes it as a 'whole ritual'. Currently on the lookout for a vintage-style turntable to add character to her living room, Chatterjee says that picking up a record, placing it on the player, and letting the music slowly begin is what makes vinyl such a distinct, real-time experience - something no app can ever replicate.'I think that's why Gen Z is drawn to it,' she adds. 'It gives you a sense of being in touch with reality.'Chatterjee is right. The Gen Z vinyl enthusiasts we spoke to admit they love records for the sheer immersiveness of the experience.'For me, it's the process. It's the essence of digging for unexplored music and getting completely involved in it. I'm very much an album person, so the process of going through an entire album and finding great tunes is a deeply satisfying part of the experience,' says Utkarsh J, a 25-year-old Delhi-based DJ who also plays at Genre, Delhi's first vinyl-only bar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by genre (@genrejournal)advertisement23-year-old Sanjana from Mumbai grew up listening to vinyl because of her aunt's obsession with the medium. Now building her own record collection, she feels discovering an album in a record store and then buying it feels so much more satisfying than just clicking on a new playlist online.'I'll give a song a proper listen, then a few more tracks, and only after that decide if I like the album enough to buy it. The purchase is more thoughtful because I want to make sure it's something I'll enjoy for years,' she streaming platforms, she often puts a playlist on shuffle and keeps hitting 'next' if she's not in the mood for a song. There's nothing wrong with that, she says, but vinyl feels different. New-age vinylheads swear by it for how it feels real, distinct and more immersive. (Photo: Pexels) advertisement'It reminds me of the radio days, when you didn't have full control over the music - you let songs play longer, you had a little more patience.'Vinyl also brings the listener closer to the artist, re-emphasising the album format - encouraging you to experience each track in the order the artist intended.'It's an experience where you're not just listening to music, but collecting a piece of art from an artist. You get to dig into their entire album, and there's a personal connection to the artist that you don't get with other formats,' explains vinyl culture on the rise, India is set to get its first record-pressing plant in four decades. At the same time, a wave of vinyl clubs - dedicated solely to playing records - is opening up.'More and more brands want to integrate vinyl into their launches and other brand extensions,' says Utkarsh J, who played records at a Suntory Toki Whisky event in Delhi's Dhan Mill in April. DJ Utkarsh J plays vinyl at Suntory Toki event in New Delhi. (Photo: Author) Kunal Singh Chhabra, co-founder of vinyl-only bar Genre, has a first-hand anecdote of the rise in popularity of vinyl.'When we opened in October 2023, it was a novelty for many. People would say, 'Wow, you play on records?' Over time, as more places have adopted this culture, it's become slightly more familiar. We now host Selectors Nights - you don't have to be a DJ, you can just bring your records and we curate an evening around them,' Kunal a cheap hobbyBut vinyl is not a cheap hobby. Each record can cost anywhere between Rs 1,500 and Rs 6,000, depending on its exclusivity. A turntable, too, is a pricey investment, starting at around Rs 8,000. Add to that the delicate handling it requires - its components, like the needle, can easily break with even slight mishandling.'I buy at least one new record a month to grow my collection, especially now that I no longer have access to my aunt's. If I splurge on an expensive one, I stop there; but when I discover a lot of new music, the bill can get scary - despite my best efforts to be sensible,' shares Revolver Club in Mumbai, for instance, has a Gen Z Starter Pack which costs Rs 33,000. It includes the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X turntable and the Edifier R1280DB powered speakers.'It's our most popular combo for anyone looking to enter the hobby; plug-and-play and budget-friendly,' Jude those who can't afford it as a regular hobby, records become keepsakes - and even that feels special in today's digital world.- Ends
