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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: How Bengaluru turned into a dynamic film capital
By: S Shyam Prasad Before Independence, the Cantonment part of Bengaluru was culturally more English while the rest under the Mysore King was Kannadiga. In the 1980s, this invisible cultural division could still be discerned in big-screen entertainment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While Mahatma Gandhi Road in the erstwhile Cantonment predominantly screened English or Hindi films, Kempe Gowda Road was dominated by Kannada movies. But a big change was brewing from within. The city was set to transform, combining its quaint past with an emerging silicon age. S Shyam Prasad After the illustrious '70s, Kannada films moved on to the Golden '80s. Matinee idol Rajkumar was at the peak of his popularity and prowess, churning out awesome mythological spectacles, mesmerising social dramas and reaffirming his status as a Kannada cultural icon. It was not uncommon to have three different films of his running to houseful shows in three different theatres on KG Road. The Bengaluru audience was overwhelmed with excessive options. The '80s also witnessed Vishnuvardhan's action films that reinvented a beloved star, Ambareesh's politically charged flicks that changed the concept of villainy in Indian films, Shankar Nag's experiments that captured the imagination of the nation, Anant Nag's comedies, Kashinath's socially poignant satires, and 'Tiger' Prabhakar with his action comedies gave spoilt-for-choice a whole new meaning. Into this burst multifaceted talents like Ravichandran, Shivarajkumar, Hamsalekha, Nagabharana and Sunil Kumar Desai. The second half of the '80s witnessed a dramatic change in Bengaluru's film industry. The Kannada film industry, along with the Telugu industry, was based out of Chennai for several decades. While the Telugu industry moved to Hyderabad, the Kannada film industry was the last to move out to its own backyard. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Shankar Nag seeded the idea with Sanket Studio in the city. After his untimely death, Hamsalekha took the idea to fruition by recording songs for films in the city for the first time. He introduced local musicians, who were till then confined to private albums, to films. The Kannada film industry moved to Bengaluru completely. Today, Bengaluru is home to more than 250 recording studios. Bengaluru was a hub of silent-era movies in the early 1930s but lost outafter the arrival of talkie films, where Chennai and Mumbai dominated. After nearly 50 years, the entire process of filmmaking, including shooting, recording, and processing labs, returned to the city in the late 1980s. The new wave of actors and directors who had entered the industry in the late '80s took centre stage in the 90s. Ravichandran, Shivarajkumar, and Ramesh Aravind led the new wave of entertainers. From the volatile Police Story with its gross dialogues to the classy Beladingala Baale, the variety of the '80s continued. Audiences were flocking to both kinds of films. The decade also marked the beginning of the 'machchu-longu' (sword-machete) films, with Om proving to be the turning point of the film industry. In the following decade, a large majority of films made by newcomers focused on crime and the underworld, the glut of which is sometimes blamed for the aversion to action films the more conservative among the Kannada audience developed. Apart from directing Om, Upendra turned hero with unconventional films like A and Upendra. Another significant change the Kannada film industry witnessed in the '90s was the problem of a shortage of local writers. Most of the old guard had abruptly faded, leaving the industry's next generation of writers ungroomed. This resulted in the unprecedented turn towards remake films. Films from Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu began to be remade without abandon. With the unofficial ban on dubbing into Kannada since the '60s, Bengaluru had developed pockets where Tamil and Hindi films thrived in their original, especially in the former Cantonment areas. These pockets grew in the '90s, with Kannada films increasingly depending on remakes. With migration, Telugu films joined the party and suddenly, Bengaluru was the only city with films in five different languages, including English, releasing every week. The new century The turn of the century saw the arrival of three actors who would become superstars: Sudeep, Darshan, andPuneeth Rajkumar. Their stardom (after the untimely death of Puneeth) in Bengaluru and the rest of Karnataka continues to this day. Kannada actresses, including Ramya, Rakshita, and Radhika, were also part of this new generation. In 2003, Bengaluru got its first taste of multiplex cinema. Signalling the growth of the city, the first 'multiscreen theatres' came up in Marathahalli rather than the more traditional cinema hubs of KG Road and MG Road. It was followed by the now-standard multiplex screens in Koramangala. This decade saw the steady decline of single-screen theatres in Bengaluru. In the 1990s, there were nearly 200 single screens in the city. Despite the rapid growth of the city since then, no new single screen was added. In September 2014, the 23rd multiplex in Bengaluru with eight screens came up, taking the total number of multiplex screens to 113. The number of single screens had come down to 112 (a few more had ceased operations but still had standing structures). The pendulum had swung. Former Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president and exhibitor, KV Chandrashekar, said, 'Today, in 2025, the number of single screens in the city has reduced to 68 while 58 multiplexes with a combined 285 screens have far overtaken them.' For Karnataka, the numbers are 333 and 458, respectively. Multiplexes also helped languages with smaller demographics to screen films in Bengaluru. Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, and Marathi films began to be regularly screened in the city. Large-scale migration helped Bhojpuri films to be screened in a few single screens as well. However, the earlier 'MG Road films' (English and Hindi) completely abandoned single screens and became 'multiplex-only' films. Single screens could be filled only by Kannada films with big stars and the bigbudget films from Telugu and Tamil. The big spurt The late 2010s saw a major explosion of filmmaking in Bengaluru, with the Kannada film industry experiencing an unprecedented spurt in production. From an industry that was churning out around 70–75 films a year, the annual releases breached 200 within the next ten years. This was in no small measure due to the success of Mungaru Male (2006), which set many records, including becoming the first Indian film to run in a multiplex for a full year. The film literally introduced hundreds of new directors, actors, and producers to the industry. The shift from celluloid to digital filming was another factor which aided this rapid growth. Ganesh, Duniya Vijay, Yash, and Rakshit Shetty were some of the stars who emerged during this period. The 2010s and '20s saw great experimentation as the film industry in Bengaluru tried to crack the multiplex code, which seemed to favour only high-budget films. The way people watched films has also changed. Veteran director and producer SV Rajendra Singh Babu said, 'In the '80s, Rajkumar's films had the highest number of openings in Bengaluru with 7–8 screens. In the '90s, Vishnuvardhan and Ravichandran's films were released in 12–13 theatres. Now every big film is released in 40plus single screens plus the 50-plus multiplexes. From 10 prints (celluloid) in the '80s, we now release films in 300plus theatres in Karnataka. ' Today, Bengaluru is still the biggest market for Kannada films. Interestingly, it is also a very big market for all other language films. 'Last week, we had an Oriya film running houseful shows in Bengaluru. A Tamil film of Rajinikanth will make a business of up to Rs 35 crore. It is not only because people are watching films in all languages but also because Bengaluru has the highest ticket prices anywhere. Hyderabad and Chennai have a cap on ticket prices, but not Bengaluru,' he points out. Discounting the lull of the Covid pandemic, there was a hint of the Bengaluru industry having created a new path with pan-India hits like the KGF series and Kantara. Mirroring the development in other industries, the 'Pan-India' phenomenon is the new craze. But insiders are concerned. The Kannada film industry no longer dominates the city. It is now just one of several entertainers. From colonial-era divides to modern-day multiplexes, from silent films to digital releases, Bengaluru's cinematic landscape has been anything but static. The city has welcomed every kind of film, nurtured multiple generations of talent, and mirrored the cultural shifts of Karnataka itself. Today, even as traditional theatres disappear and new platforms emerge, Bengaluru continues to be one of India's most dynamic film capitals, a place where the story, no matter the language, is always centrestage. (The writer is a film curator)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: City in a fast-changing metropolis
Cities offer us a swirl of memories and experiences. Even if we miss some comforts of living. That's why every time our plane touches down, our train rumbles in or our bus negotiates the chock-a-block near the outskirts to enter our city, we sit up with anticipation, check our phones once more, and gaze expectantly as if to say there's nothing like home. We ache for our homes and familiar surroundings to recharge our batteries. The truth is we carry Bengaluru with us wherever we go. And mutter to ourselves about how cool our city is in comparison and how it has what other cities have plus something more. It has many things – old and new, bright and beautiful as well as subtle monochromes. A Ferriswheel view now would indicate the frequently mentioned aspects of weather, gardens and tech activity. Thirty to fifty years ago, the highlights would have included a haven for retirees, parks, lakes, public sector enterprises, and science research institutions. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Further back, the serene lifestyle in British bungalows and the culturally rich petes under the Mysore rule. And even earlier, of course, the textile mills and horse carriages of the early 20th century. That marks over hundred years of the transformation cycle. From where does this open city derive the energy to move forward? It has always had a remarkable alchemy of middle- and upper-class aspirations, fueled by top-notch research institutes and a cosmopolitan environment. Today, over 25 years after the early generations made their bow into the IT realm, these features are more pronounced. With thousands of startups, the city continues to be a magnet for talent. For over three decades now, it continues to retain its crown as tech capital, with a workforce exceeding one million. What stands out through all this is the spirit of adaptation and the openness to modernity. Bengaluru has always served as a fusion station for yesterday, today and tomorrow. You could argue that this is so with most cities, but the 'tomorrow' is very much on the horizon here. A CEO of hyphenated identities or a young entrepreneur largely see their stay as a stopover to bigger destinations. Take the last big marker of change – caused by liberalisation of the economy – in the blooming of tech companies. Around that time, in 1997, historian Sunil Khilnani observed that in contrast to the 'garbled modernity' of some other cities, 'a quite different trend is represented by the aspiring esperanto of Bangalore'. It has collected more epithets along the way, the latest is 'Startup City'. Dynamic cities are hardwired for change and Bengaluru is one such, resembling a vast, ever-evolving circuit board where new connections are made and data continuously flows and reroutes. You truly can't avoid using the tech metaphor for a city that has spawned megabytes of memes and witty lines. An apocryphal anecdote about the homogeneity of metropolitan cities is about a young resident guiding a tourist: 'Go straight ahead, turn right at the global fried chicken outlet; to your left you can see the American brand coffee house and reserve roaster, k e e p walking ahead till you get to a tea boutique…' Talk of new landmarks or think of how coffee goes with coding. The road to Electronic City indeed might be leading you to the city of tomorrow but in no way does it mean that the idyll of the past hasn't been disturbed. Oldtimers say that like many other towns and cities, Bengaluru was once a simple place; it attained complexity each time it assumed a new layer of modernity. The familiar refrain is 'Where's the city which was so charming?' or 'This is nothing like the old days'. As a friend puts it, 'Bangalore is so different; ing a tourist: Go ahead, turn he global ken outur left see rid e o u… ' new ks or how cofith coding. ad to Electronic as you grow more attached to it you want to live further away from the centre, away from the noise and congestion.' Everybody searches for her peace and solitude. After all, how can you enjoy Rumi in a fish market? Our seniors said this too and their seniors of the past decades were as vocal in their complaints. We pine to walk around lakes, but much of our quietness now lies in the heights of skyscrapers, in the few green gardens, in shrines and in libraries. Yet, masons, carpenters and welders are working on building plusher offices, housing estates and gated communities. Every house needs a sign: 'No parking in front of this gate'. In the growling traffic on Queen's road, a child in a car is reciting nursery rhymes, her mom checking every syllable. There are other ways of looking at the world, we say. We go with what our city offers u s while trying t o break free from the humdrum routine. Another way of tracing urban identity would be to examine what aspects or features are distinct. To draw from Teju Cole, Nigerian-American novelist and photographer whose work frequently looks at urban space and life, the 'subtleties, the smaller things' make one city different from another. The downtown may seem like a general picture of people and life, but also quite deceptive thanks to a certain standardization of design and lifestyle. Nothing's very different from another metro: Young girls in baggy jeans munch tacos or chocolate-dipped churros; dudes in but- reciting nursery rh mom checking lable. Ther ways of the w say wi ou f r w i n iden be to what a features ar To draw from ton-down shirts with bold prints hang out at brewpubs and older foodies try out culinary novelties at gourmet restaurants. Only Bengaluru has more of that. But there are little cities within the city, the nooks and corners that carry a stamp of local culture. Patisseries coexist with traditional Iyengar bakeries; pav bhaji and gobi manchurian stalls aren't far away from pizzerias and the aroma of roasted coffee beans wafts from age-old shops located in the vicinity of new-age bistros. The localities had their own traditions in the last century, some known for Kannada culture, some others for bustling bazaars, a few for cottage industries and the Cantonment for its clubs, bungalows and churches. There are lanes, in Basavanagudi, for instance, where rangoli-sellers, milkmen and the suprabhatam playing somewhere can wake you up along with an ambulance siren. None can feel a city's pulse better than a flaneur, the key character in urban life who stands detached from regular activity himself but is a keen observer of how it's all changing. He has seen people -- the hawkers, hangers-on, cobblers on the sidewalk, office-goers running to catch a bus or shopkeepers lighting an agarbatti after they raise the shutters. He has seen processions, protests, celebrations and stampedes. He has seen trees cut and playgrounds disappear. And he has seen machines dig tunnels for the subterranean metro. He has walked past colonnades and domes of old British buildings, curled through the lanes of Chickpet listening to the 'thwack and clack' of the last weaving looms and the patterns of cowdung pats on walls of a rare tiled home. The best days of his wanderings came in the 1970s and 1980s in Majestic when there was a floating stream of humans, many emerging from offices in the vicinity or the trading hubs of Avenue Road, Balepet and Chickpet, but predominantly from the matinee dreams of the 20-odd cinema houses. There are many more streets now where hawkers have taken over the pavements, spreading their wares all over, sometimes sending pedestrians hopping over a heap of woolens or toys. Streets that embody the vibrancy of neighborhoods and emphasize the contribution of small businesses and shopkeepers in creating dynamic spaces, as Jane Jacobs, the American-born Canadian urbanologist, would appreciate. And, as she added, it becomes evident that many of our ideas and conventions about redevelopment are 'visibly wrong'. The flaneur understands this, because he has seen the best battles of transience versus timelessness. People, after all, give places a different sense. They may break the stereotypes or prompt newer ones. For the Bengalurean who keeps discovering the various aspects of his city's captivating allure, age-old traditions blend seamlessly with modern innovations and culture. So, if we had the ability to travel through time, which period of the city would we choose to experience? Opinions would vary. If you have any doubts, ask the next-door techie. He might say, 'Go ask Grok!' The writer is a former Associate Resident Editor of The Times of India, Bengaluru. He has written on various social and cultural topics and co-edited an anthology on Bengaluru.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
School Assembly news headlines for today July 16, 2025: From sports to education, check 20+ national & international news
School Assembly news headlines for today July 16, 2025: Welcome to today's school assembly news headlines for July 16, 2025! Here, you will find the latest updates from around the world, covering sports, education, national, and international news. Today, we highlight important stories such as Prime Minister Modi paying tribute to freedom fighter K. Kamaraj on his birth anniversary, and expressing sorrow over the death of marathon legend Fauja Singh. In education, students and parents should know that the JNU admissions window is closing, and Delhi University is gearing up for its much-awaited seat allotment. Internationally, talks between India and China are in focus after important meetings, and Yemen has postponed the execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya. In sports, exciting events like the Mysore horse races are happening, and Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are set to clash in the FIFA Club World Cup final. Monsoon rains have also caused severe weather in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, leading to landslides and flood. Today's national news headlines in English for school assembly, July 16, 2025 Veteran marathon runner Fauja Singh dies at 114 after an accident in Punjab; known worldwide as 'The Turbaned Tornado'. Supreme Court to hear pleas on NEET-PG transparency on August 3, focusing on exam evaluation and answer key release. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates India's second-longest cable-stayed bridge in Karnataka, improving connectivity in the Sharavathi backwaters region. President Droupadi Murmu appoints new governors for Haryana, Goa, and Ladakh; Kavinder Gupta becomes Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor. Mumbai reports 126 measles cases among children in 2025; health officials intensify monitoring and treatment efforts. Today's international news headlines in English for school assembly, July 16, 2025 France celebrates Bastille Day with a grand military parade, drone show, and fireworks in Paris. Dutch medical flight SUZ1 crashes after takeoff from London Southend Airport; airport temporarily closed for safety checks. European Union announces prolongation of halt on countermeasures against the US to continue trade negotiations. New Zealand plans to double its international student market by 2034, easing work permit rules to attract global talent. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, emphasizing improved India-China relations. Today's sports news headlines in English for school assembly, July 16, 2025 Australia defeats West Indies in a close T20I series finale, securing the title with a thrilling run chase. Chelsea set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final, stirring excitement among football fans. England takes a 2-1 lead in the Test series against India after a tense 22-run victory at Lord's. MI New York claims the Major League Cricket title, with Rushil Ugarkar successfully defending the final over under extreme pressure. England storms into Women's Euro quarterfinals, overpowering Wales 6-1 after another resounding win against the Netherlands. Today's education news headlines in English for school assembly, July 16, 2025 HPBOSE announces date sheet for Class 10th and 12th Supplementary Exams, beginning July 22 in a single morning session. Delhi University approves major curriculum changes amid faculty concerns, with new measures to address teacher shortages. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar refers to coaching centres as "black holes," sparking calls for reforms in India's test-prep industry. A Kerala school introduces innovative classroom seating, ending traditional backbenching to enhance student engagement. World Youth Skills Day is celebrated, focusing on youth empowerment through artificial intelligence and digital skills. Today's state news headlines in English for school assembly, July 16, 2025 President Droupadi Murmu appoints new Governors for Haryana, Goa, and Ladakh, with Kavinder Gupta replacing BD Mishra as Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor. Mumbai reports an increased 126 measles cases among children this year, prompting intensified measures at BMC hospitals. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Karnataka's second-longest cable-stayed Sigandur Bridge. The monsoon remains active in Himachal Pradesh, prompting Orange and Yellow weather alerts for multiple districts due to forecasted heavy rain. New orange alert issued for heavy downpours in Rajasthan, leading to local flood warnings and emergency response preparations. Top business and economic news headlines for July 16, 2025 Tesla launches Model Y electric cars in India, opens first Mumbai showroom Global trade grows $300 billion in first half of 2025 despite volume slowdown US proposes 100% tariffs on Russia's trade partners to push Ukraine peace deal Japan's 10-year government bond yields reach multi-decade highs ahead of elections UNCTAD urges stronger global competition laws amid Big Tech market dominance Daily word and thought of the day for school assembly, July 16, 2025 For the school assembly on July 16, 2025, here are the Daily Word and Thought of the Day: Daily Word: Integrity (noun) Meaning: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Example: "A person with integrity always does the right thing, even when no one is watching." For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Taste of time: Penang's eateries keep culinary traditions alive
Penang, often dubbed the food capital of Malaysia, is more than just a haven for street food lovers — it is a living museum of culinary legacies. Across its narrow lanes and bustling markets, time-honoured eateries quietly carry on stories that stretch back over a century, with recipes whispered from one generation to the next. But in an era where food trends change with a scroll and youth are drawn to modern careers, how do these family-run businesses ensure that their heritage does not get lost to time? From Hameediyah Restaurant's masala to Kek Seng's pastel scoops, and from Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay's tender pastries to Bangkok Lane's fried noodles, these are not just meals. They are stories passed down in quiet kitchens, through handwritten recipes, on chopping boards and in whispered instructions over morning prep. On Campbell Street, the scent of spices and simmering curry will lead you to Hameediyah Restaurant, Malaysia's oldest nasi kandar establishment. Opened in 1907 by spice trader M. Mohamed Thamby Rawther, Hameediyah began as a humble stall under an angsana tree. Today, it stands tall as a culinary institution, stewarded by the sixth and seventh generations of the Rawther family. "Our original masala recipe, created over a century ago, still forms the foundation of all our curries. "While we have introduced modern processes for consistency, the soul of the food remains unchanged — cooked with patience, perfected spices and heritage techniques." Muhammad Riyaaz Syed Ibrahim, who turns 34 next month and is among the restaurant's custodians, is sharing his story with the New Sunday Times. From ayam kapitan to the fiery mutton Mysore, Hameediyah's dishes have been steeped in tradition since Day 1. But beyond taste, there is also a plan to safeguard the future. "Succession planning is key. We involve younger family members in everything — from operations to branding. Legacy is not just inherited. It must be earned and evolved," Riyaaz added. M. Mohamed Thamby was a spice trader from Chittarkottai, Tamil Nadu, India, who arrived in Penang in the early 1870s with his sons. The original idea was to introduce locals to Indian spices through food — and that was how the nasi kandar stall under an angsana tree at Lebuh Campbell began. But with so many competitors nowadays, what's so special at Hameediyah? Some of its most celebrated dishes include ayam kapitan, a rich, aromatic roasted chicken with colonial roots; beef rendang, a dish made of meat stewed in spiced coconut gravy until tender; and, mutton Mysore, a fiery South Indian masala. Others include murtabak, the legendary egg-stuffed pancake with meat eaten with pickled onions; nasi briyani, a fragrant basmathi rice boiled with secret spices; and mee goreng — food that reflect Penang's Indian-Muslim culinary influence. Riyaaz said the restaurant is investing in training programmes, mentorship and exposure to traditional cooking and modern food and beverage management. "We preserve our identity while elevating the brand, including the new launch of Malaysia's first nasi kandar 'fine-dining' concept under the Hameediyah multi-concept flagship store in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. "With this approach, we are confident that Hameediyah will continue to thrive for generations to come," he said. Down Penang Road lies Kek Seng, which has been serving its signature ais kacang and ice cream in vintage bowls since 1906. The third generation now runs the show, with Cheow Sow Lei, 58, at the helm. "My grandfather Tung Seng Chong started this place. Now it's been almost 119 years. We still make our ais kacang and ice cream the same way — no artificial essence, except for the rose flavour," she said. "Even all the ingredients inside the ais kacang, such as the red bean and jelly, are home-made. "What makes our ais kacang stand out is our secret syrup. It is a recipe passed down from my grandfather and we maintained it until this day." Cheow said that back in those days, her grandfather had opened a small store selling ais kacang, ice cream and tea to cater to the British colonialists in Penang. Later, he collaborated with a friend to open Kek Seng, which lasted to this very day. "I do not know how the idea of making our famous durian ice cream came about, but it has always been a hit with our regulars and walk-in customers," she said. Kek Seng's traditional jagung, chocolate, durian and rose ice cream are frozen and scooped up from metal tubs, just like the old days. But even though the Kek Seng legacy lives on, the question of continuity has finally caught up with the establishment. "My three children have their own careers, but they know how to make the ice cream. "Maybe one day, they will take over from me," said Cheow with a tinge of hope. In a modest kitchen behind a gallery of vintage tools and faded family photos in Lebuh Chulia, 46-year-old Cavin Mook begins his day before sunrise. Coconut milk simmering gently in large woks, trays of glutinous rice awaiting their fillings and steamers puffing away at Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay — all quiet rituals of a craft passed down through three generations. Mook is not just making kuih. He is preserving a story that began in 1933, when his grandfather, a Chinese immigrant who married a Peranakan woman here, began making and selling traditional kuih. "Back then, there were also many Indian immigrants here. My grandfather would make the kuih and every day, 60 or 70 of them would come to collect and sell them. "They started with carrying the kuih on their heads. Later, they used trolleys and eventually switched to trishaw. "This was how our family survived. My grandfather started with nothing but selling kuih. My father took over and after he died six years ago, it was my turn," Mook said. His father, Mook Hian Beng, carried the business through the post-war years, later taking advantage to adapt to the tourism boom in the 1980s. "When my father first took over, business was slow. He never really wanted to change. He came from a time when packaging kuih was unthinkable. "I had to persuade him to change and ultimately, he just left the business to me." Now, Mook runs the operation almost single-handedly, with help from his ageing mother and his sister, Jolyn. "My mum is 70 and follows me to the kitchen every morning. "We have an old-timer staffer too, who has been with us for decades and only he knows our trade. It is either me or him mixing the flour," he said. The Mook family business had outlived many others of its kind. "Some herbs we used to use, like daun kaduk, you cannot buy them anymore. So we grow them ourselves. "We still make everything from scratch — fresh santan, no preservatives and all kuih are steamed daily," he said. Mook rattled off the names of his products, like a family he knows by heart — pulut tai tai (kaya kuih), abuk-abuk, kuih koci, kuih kosui. "All of them are made from my grandfather's recipes. We even have some of his old tools in the gallery for people to see." Despite the deep history, he admits that his business is teetering on the edge. "It is a dying trade. My child is just 11. It is too early to say if he will take over. Interest must come naturally and not be forced," he said. Besides his kuih-making operation, Mook has opened a cafe to sell his products to tourists, which is named after his grandfather Moh Teng Pheow. However, Mook said, legacy is not about nostalgia, but effort. "Without hard work, legacy does not mean anything." And until that day comes, Mook will keep steaming, stirring and wrapping — honouring his grandfather's legacy one kuih at a time. STIRRING UP A FLAVOURFUL GENERATION For fans of fiery noodles, Bangkok Lane Mee Goreng is the institution. Since 1941, the Zakariah family has been dishing out wok-tossed plates of spicy, sticky, squid noodles with a secret sauce that has never changed. "My grandfather used to sell from a tricycle," said Sabik Ahamed, 40, who runs the stall at the New World Park food court in Jalan Burma. "The chili and tomato sauce, the way we cook — all are still the same. Just like my grandfather Zakariah and father, Mahboob Zakariah, taught me." Though his two sisters help, Sabik largely helms the operation solo with the active participation of his father. His hope is simple. "I want the next generation to continue. It is the same recipe, same passion. As long as they follow it, the legacy will live." Each of these eateries — Hameediyah, Kek Seng, Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay and Bangkok Lane Mee Goreng — shares one thing in common: the struggle between preservation and modernity. While some successors are already being trained, others are still waiting in the wings, and their future remains uncertain. Yet, behind every stained apron and faded recipe card is a story of love, identity and commitment. Perhaps legacy is not just about bloodlines. It is about resilience, about showing up day after day, to cook food the old way — not because it is easy, but because it matters.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hundreds celebrate World Karate Day in Mysuru
World Karate Day was celebrated in Karnataka's Mysuru on Sunday, which saw the participation of hundreds of practitioners, mainly children, who gave a demonstration of the martial art form. The event was organised by the Mysuru Karate Association at the Mysore University Sports Pavilion, and inaugurated by MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda. Mr. Deve Gowda urged the students to learn self-defence techniques like karate along with their academic activities, and said that it would help them deal with hooligans and anti-social elements whose menace was on the rise in society. Alongside arts, culture, literature, and academics, physical activities and sports should also thrive and be a part of formal education, he added. The Chamundeshwari MLA said the activities of hooligans at times render people helpless, and on such occasions, self-defence techniques help in protection. Practice of such martial art forms also helps in maintaining one's health, and promotes discipline and strength, he added. Mr. Deve Gowda also called for conducting karate competitions during Dasara, in order to encourage and popularise the martial art form. He also commended MP Yaduveer Wadiyar's work and said that the latter has disproved his detractors. 'Many made sarcastic comments when he contested elections, and questioned whether a royal would come out of the palace and work with the public. But he is constantly travelling across his constituency in Mysuru and Kodagu districts. Besides, he also meets both the State and Central ministers for the development of the constituency, and his dedication has earned him the goodwill of the people.' Mr. Deve Gowda said. C. Venkatesh, director, Physical Education, University of Mysore, S. Sunil Kumar, president, Mysuru Karate Association, and others were present.
