Patrons who dropped by Indiranagar on Saturday, to take a breather and unwind, were treated to a rude shock with the abrupt closure of a gig at a renowned venue in the locality, and rumours of live music again falling prey to government diktats. Sources have revealed that cops walked in and created a furore over a performance, calling for an immediate shutdown. We document the angst of those hit the hardest by what is perceived as a rather uncalled for move...
‘We are easy targets’: Irked by the injustice being meted out; a popular restaurateur, who does not wish to be named, speaks about the non-feasiblity of the whole idea. “A blanket ban like this makes little sense, especially when all it takes to find out whether somebody is doing something illegal is to actually head to a venue and check it out for yourself. None of the performance venues I know are doing anything illegal, we do not promote obscene dances or performances. And, we are completely against exploitation of women of any kind. Also, coming to the legal part of it, why is it a mandate for cafes and bars to have an occupancy license when 90 per cent of Bengaluru which constitutes residential areas, schools and hospitals don’t have it either? We are easy targets.”
‘Uncouth and downright wrong’: “Attacking and amalgamating dance bars with live music is not only insulting to the arts and culture of Bengaluru, it is also ignorant and uneducated. It reflects badly on our government and police force. Ignorant folk should not be allowed to write laws,” begins musician Raphael Emileena. While she avers that residents are entitled to a peaceful night’s sleep and to ensure that venues must sound proof their location; a detailed explanation is what she suggests is logical. “Most of the noise, especially in Indiranagar, comes from clubs that play electronic music either with or without DJs. The solution to that is to obviously turn the sound levels down. I myself have struggled to walk down 12th main without getting a headache, but, NONE of the noise was being produced by bands. The police have a duty to uphold the law. Until a law is passed, they have no right to enter a premises unless called upon. They definitely do not have the right to harass patrons and venue owners alike.
Thrashing drum kits and fording people out makes them no better than local goons and hooligans. They are the police and must act with the decorum their uniform demands. Who will pay for the damages they have caused to venues?”
‘We need to be heard’: Thinking along similar lines is another musician, who believes that the ban needs more thought. “The issue is very saddening. And, the residents are not helping in anyway, and are making this a moral issue.
The new rules regarding construction and documentary requirements must be solved and establishments who have stood tall to support indie music like Humming Tree and Bflat should be heard and understood,” begins Sanjeev Thomas, musician and founder of the Rainbow Bridge. He adds, “Independent musicians and technicians will be most affected by this. There are musicians who try and make a living outside of the film fraternity.”
Opining about the unfortunate state of affairs, restaurateur Viraj Suvarna concludes, “This is sad.We have so much talent in Bengaluru. The government is killing the city’s reputation as a friendly multi-cultural cosmopolitan city. I’ve had to shut my restaurant Take 5 which has been a platform for more than 500 bands for 32 years.”
