Latest news with #BangaloreInternationalCentre
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Film screening on Ferdinand Kittel at BIC on July 27
BENGALURU The Bangalore International Centre (BIC) will host a special screening of a film that explores the life and contributions of Ferdinand Kittel, who authored the first major Kannada-English dictionary. The event will take place on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at BIC, 4th Main Road, Domlur II Stage. Entry is free and will be on a first come, first served basis.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
BIS to host event celebrating Viijayanagar's cultural legacy on July 3
In a unique confluence of history, music, and cultural revival, the Bangalore International Centre (BIC) will host 'Echoes of a Golden Empire – The Cultural and Literary Tapestry of Vijayanagar' on July 3 from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. at its premises in Domlur II Stage. The evening will feature a specially curated classical music performance that draws inspiration from the rich heritage of the period. Acclaimed vocalist Krithika Sreenivasan will lead the concert, accompanied by Rakesh Dath on the flute, Deepikaa Srinivasan on the Mridangam, and R.P. Prashanth on the veena — each bringing to life the sounds that once resonated through the imperial courts and temples of Vijayanagar. The event, hosted at BIC, invites music lovers, history enthusiasts, and cultural connoisseurs to experience a nuanced blend of scholarly storytelling and musical artistry. Admission is open to all, and prior registration is recommended through the BIC website.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- The Hindu
Coracle, at BIC Cafe, is an invitation to wholesome, homely Kerala cuisine
There are not too many home chefs who take the plunge into running a restaurant, but Tresa Francis does it with a subtle flair and understated elegance that is the hallmark of Coracle. Even many regulars to the Bangalore International Centre (BIC) may not be aware of its existence, tucked away in plain sight, away from the hustle and bustle of its many activities. Sliding doors open into a simple, yet tastefully designed dining area and a decently stocked bar. Coracle primarily serves Kerala cuisine with a few South Indian regional exceptions. And while there is no dearth of Malayali restaurants in the city, ranging from simple messes to ones helmed by star chefs, Coracle occupies a sweet spot where the food is homely and the experience is classy. Chef Tresa Francis, whose culinary influences come from north, central and south Kerala, says cooking has always been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. 'We were all involved in the prepartion of a meal, even as children. Whether it was helping pick produce or poultry, it was something we all did,' she says, adding that it was never seen as a grown-up's job. Kerala cuisine involves a rich balance of flavours and textures, courtesy the use of a range of tubers, lentils and gourds. And though most of these vegetarian delights are commonly seen at the grocer's, more often than not, only mushrooms, paneer, corn and peas make it on to the menu in most places. We begin our meal with yam fingers served with curry leaf aioli, and kappa (tapioca) kandhari sauce. For those not in the know, boiled tapioca served with a simple dipping sauce of coarsely pounded green chillies, shallots and coconut oil, is a staple in Kerala and can be eaten at any time of day. Both were simple and homely, and set the tone for the rest of our meal. Next up were the prawn fry, pork fry and beef cutlets, each vying for our attention. Both the prawn and pork fry were delicious, succulent and well flavoured, without an overpowering of spices. It was heartening to see the beef cutlets were of ample proportions, happily crisp on the outside and satisfactorily moist on the inside. Ullarthu is Malayalam for roast and we try both the chicken and beef ullarthu. The chicken is served on mini parottas, inviting you to pop them in your mouth and chew on their wholesomeness at one go. Now, beef ullarthu is a signature dish in the Kerala cuisine cookbook. Often accompanied by parotta or enjoyed by itself, this dish is found along the length and breadth of the state, at homes and hotels, and is as comforting as a bowl of dal-chaawal elsewhere. However, only a few places can elevate its delectability and Coracle is one of them. There is a quite a good reason why. While Tresa oversees everything at the kitchen, the beef ullarthu and prawn mango curry are two dishes she personally prepares apart from the fish curries. Traditionally, the meat is slow-cooked until tender and is flecked with coconut chips, gloriouslybrowned onions and dark green curry leaves. It disappears almost as soon as it make an appearance at our table. The prawn mango curry is a delicately flavoured gravy in a base of coconut milk and it pairs wonderfully with appams, rice and even parottas. It is a definitive must-have at Coracle, if you are a non-vegetarian, especially as the taste and recipe are quite unique. We end our meal with tender coconut pudding and caramel custard. Both choices are smooth and light on our stomachs that have been well-stuffed at this point. Coracle opens at lunchtime and serves meals as well as a few dishes from other regions such as neer dosa, kumbalkai palya, kori gassi and ghee roast from Mangalore, Tamil Nadu's railway mutton curry, Karnataka's hitkidbele gojju (dish of hyacinth beans). Since Tresa makes it a point to include seasonal vegetables in the menu, be prepared to try something new on your visit apart from her classics. But whatever you decide to indulge in, expect soul satisfying, delicious fare.
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Nirmala Lakshman to discuss ‘The Tamils' at BIC on June 17 )
Around 90 million-strong today, the community of Tamils is not only spread across India but is a growing global diaspora which hold on to their distinct cultural identity even as they fan out. Nirmala Lakshman, in her book The Tamils, chronicles the journey of this civilisation from the Stone Age and the Sangam era to the Bhakti movement and colonial history. On June 17, Ms. Lakshman, Publisher and Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications, will engage in a discussion on her book with Ranvir Shah, cultural activist, philanthropist and businessman, at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC). Ramachandra Guha, writer and historian, will do the introduction. The discussion will not only explore the themes of the book but also examine the Tamil identity in the 21st century, its evolution through intersections of caste, religion and gender, and how modernity and migration have given the culture newer meanings as the community across the globe continues to adapt and thrive. Ms. Lakshman, who founded and edited The Hindu Literary Review, conceptualised and created Young World, India's only children's newspaper supplement, and launched Lit for Life, The Hindu's annual literature festival. She is also the author of Degree Coffee by the Yard. Mr. Shah founded the Prakriti Foundation in 1998 with the idea of enlivening Chennai's cultural arena through scholarly discourses, multi-media events, experimental and protest cinema, music festivals and contemporary dance performances. Dr. Guha is a public intellectual whose research interests range from political and environmental history to cricket history. The programme begins at 6.30 p.m. and entry is free.
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Know Your City: Bangalore International Centre, an engaging community space in a fast-growing metropolis
As the city expands and the 'old Bengaluru' that long-time residents were nostalgic about slowly fades, the conversation around the city's public spaces has emerged. Often, these are centuries-old lakes and monuments, and parks dating back to the era of the Raj. But just as worthy of conversation are those public spaces that bring visitors together to share culture, music, or art. One of the foremost such spaces in the city today is the Bangalore International Centre (BIC), located in Domlur, just off Indiranagar's 1st Main Road. Scroll through the list of events being held here, and you might see a prominent local musician performing, an interview with an internationally known author, or an exhibit of the works of a legendary cartoonist. The venue has seen events from cricketer Javagal Srinath discussing the physics of a cricket ball, to conversations with RBI governors. Recently, it even hosted writer-translator duo Deepa Bhasti and Banu Mushtaq, barely weeks before Mushtaq's short story collection The Heart Lamp won the International Booker. While the BIC has operated out of its own premises since 2019, when it originally started up in 2005, events were hosted on the premises of the southern regional centre of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in Bengaluru. According to V Ravichandar, who became a member of BIC's board in 2010, the India International Centre in New Delhi served as an inspiration. He said, 'November 20, 2005, was when Abdul Kalam came to inaugurate the centre (BIC)…we continued using the TERI premises until 2019 as the building project took nine years.' He recalled, 'We used to average about five events a month – now it is closer to 40. Now that we have our own centre we have been able to ramp up to about 480 programmes per year.' Ravichandar noted that a committee of around 15 members is responsible for coordinating the events at the centre. There are three main sources for these events – walk-in inquiries where people approach the centre regarding a programme; programmes with partners such as the Science Gallery Bengaluru; and in-house efforts to conduct programmes. An example of in-house efforts is the upcoming June 7 event for World Environment Day, which will feature exhibitions on topics as diverse as coffee and cartoons, alongside children's workshops and film screenings with discussions. On how the centre keeps the process funded, Ravichandar said, 'We have about 1,100 members paying about Rs 7,500 per year as an annual subscription, who are doing it because they believe Bengaluru needs a place like BIC. It is not a club, which is more exclusive, but an inclusive space that is free to attend. Another source is the rental of the space for events with objectives similar to BIC, such conversation, art and culture.' Prominent persons had also pitched in to cover two-thirds of the costs for the building and land in Domlur, including Nandan and Rohini Nilekani, the Azim Premji Foundation and Mohandas Pai, to name but a few, with members covering up the rest of the cost. Ravichandar recalled a competition in around 2011 where 84 architects from around the world applied to design the BIC and Bijoy Ramachandran of Hundredhands was selected through a jury. 'We always joke that we wanted two acres by the lake but got half an acre by the drain. The location was a challenge. The question was how do you build a public space in a residential area? The scale cannot be different. How do you build a space that looks spacious in not that much space? Bijoy has achieved this very well,' Ravichandran said. Sharing the thought behind the building with The Indian Express, architect Bijoy Ramachandran described it as an unusual project for an architect. 'Something that is open for everybody to use….a lot of what we did is examine what it means to make a public building, what kind of space is truly public, what about its space, materiality, its connection to the outside and what makes it feel like a communal space?….we realised that the holding was smaller than what we did in the competition. We had to completely reform the building in the new site boundary. The real challenge was to have this kind of public building which feels generous and open in a very tight site,' Ramachandran said. Those interested in attending events at the BIC may consult their website at Events are largely free, with a few rare exceptions, though some have RSVP requirements to manage effective seating.
