For nearly 45 years, Ram’s Musique has operated out of MG Road as a music retail store; more recently, it transformed into a vinyl experience centre for budding and seasoned LP collectors in the city.

The founder, Ramachandran, is now running it with his son Sangeeth Ram. Over the years, he has had a front row seat to the changing patterns in music consumption. From cassettes being at their peak in the 1980s to CDs in the 1990s and early 2000s, Ram recounts how with the proliferation of digital music — first as MP3s and later, internet streaming platforms — “low quality/compressed music formats satisfied the needs” of consumers.

Ramachandran says, “Convenience and accessibility won over quality. People forgot the joy of owning an album of their favorite musician or band. Business became stagnant. Most of our competitors shut shop, but we decided to stay open. It wasn’t easy.”

Taking on other business ideas to keep Ram’s Musique afloat, the founder says, “We knew vinyls would be back one day.”

Vinyl back in Bengaluru
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The global market size for vinyl records size was valued at $246.3 million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of $629.9 million by 2030. India is also counted among sizeable markets in the Asia-Pacific, although China is the leading force for vinyl sales in the region.

With worldwide initiatives such as Record Store Day held on the third Saturday in April and on Black Friday in November since 2007, it is safe to say that there has been a return to vinyl consumption on a level that an ecosystem of sorts has formed in cities including Bengaluru, where entrepreneurs and fans are seeing commercial sense in being part of the vinyl experience.

Karthik Chandrasekaran, partner at The Record Room, says ever since they launched in 2022, they saw the “initial excitement” of everyone wanting to pick up LPs, use high-end turntables at listening stations and start their own journey as collectors at their craft beer and vinyl bar. “I think that excitement never died because our listening station has taken quite a beating in the last couple of years, and we’ve had to fix it a few times,” Karthik laughs.

Sangeeth Ram who used to be an event organiser and artiste manager, joined his dad last year, after seeing their store “overwhelmed with requests” for specific LPs. “I decided to quit my job and lend him a hand. We started off with selling record players and we saw a great response,” Sangeeth says.

They found space was a constraint to showcase turntables as well as records. “Luckily, we heard the store next door was up for sale and we picked it up immediately. We put together a plan, met a carpenter, showed him some Korean record store videos and told him, ‘India needs one like this’.”

Equipped with House of Marley and Audio-Technica players, Sangeeth says they plan on being the “one-stop shop for all hi-fi stereo listening scenes.” Kerala rock favorites Avial inaugurated the vinyl experience centre at Ram’s Musique. The store had 20% off on Avial’s self-titled album and Sangeeth says they were sold out within a couple of hours, with the band indulging fans by signing copies.

Akhil Hemdev from On The Jungle Floor, an online record store and music discovery platform, has been selling vinyl since 2019. In terms of demographics, Hemdev says they have seen a “strong interest” from buyers in the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups. He describes them as “very active vinyl collectors,” adding, “Younger people are definitely interested in vinyl, but affordability can be a barrier. Interestingly, those under 25 who can afford it often start building their collection even before buying a record player, as that is the most expensive part of this experience.”

The Record Room has often been asked why they do not sell vinyl and while they might move into that space soon, they did launch their very own LP compilation of Indian indie songs, titled Record Room Vol. 1 in June 2023.

Chandrasekaran says from the foreigners and seasoned vinyl collectors who have visited The Record Room, he has understood that the culture is here to stay. That is why The Record Room is changing things up. “We might get into a café format since it is more portable and scalable, with the possibility of a presence in multiple cities. Also, vinyl could pair up with some really good coffee,” he says.

Having said that, community engagement stays important for The Record Room, Ram’s Musique and On The Jungle Floor.

On The Jungle Floor are going strong with all their community events, from listening sessions to deep dives into genres and subcultures being hosted across the city. More experience centres such as Ram’s Musique and The Record Room will definitely help in terms of accessibility, but engaging with the community needs to be constant.

Hemdev suggests workshops, reducing import duties and setting up local LP pressing plants (which are admittedly costly), plus support from cultural institutions and government initiatives that promote music and cultural heritage. “By addressing these areas, we can make the vinyl ecosystem in Bengaluru and India stronger and more sustainable,” he says.

FIR has been registered against RR Nagar MLA Munirathna and his associates under unlawful assembly, assault or criminal force against women, mischief and criminal intimidation along with SC/ST Atrocities Act.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K

Controverisal MLA of RR Nagar R. Munirathna is in trouble again after RMC Yard police registered an FIR against him along with six of his associates for alleged land grabbing and atrocity after he allegedly forcefully demolished houses in a slum area in Peenya and assaulted the dwellers to vacate on January 20, 2025.

Based on the complaint filed by one of the victims, the Peenya police booked Munirathna as the prime accused as well as six of his associates charging them under unlawful assembly, assault or criminal force against women, mischief and criminal intimidation along with SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The victim, a resident of Akkamahadevi slum situated near Peenya Government Degree College, is living with around 60 families in makeshift houses on the government land.

Munirathna and his associates allegedly came and demolished the houses and assaulted them when they went to plead with him to stop the demolition.

The accused allegedly manhandled the women and kicked them when they fell at their feet pleading mercy, the victim said in her complaint. The dwellers lost all their belongings along with the little valuables and cash they had, she alleged.

“The land belongs to the government and the MLA misused his power to carry out the demolition drive without proper orders,” sources said.

Multiple arrests

Munirathna was earlier arrested in three cases, including for allegedly raping a social worker in September last year. He was also booked for honey-trapping politicians and using HIV infected women to trap his rivals.

He was accused of using government officials for his nefarious activities and the CID SIT which is probing these cases also arrested a police inspector for abetting the crime.

Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Co-Founder, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship during the ceremony for the Crystal Awards at the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland.
| Photo Credit: AP

The World Economic Forum on Tuesday (January 21, 2025) announced Schwab Foundation Awards for 18 social entrepreneurs and innovators from 15 organisations across 13 countries, including India.

Announcing the awards during the annual meeting here, the WEF said it kicks off a three-year journey to empower recipients, who have joined a global community of nearly 500 individuals whose work is impacting 931 million lives.

The awards are given by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the Motsepe Foundation.

The 18 leaders from 15 organisations are values-driven entrepreneurs pioneering transformative business, social development and environmental models that are helping build a more equitable and sustainable world, it said.

Awardees in the social entrepreneurs category included Akshay Saxena, Co-Founder of Avanti Fellows, a non-profit that aims to provide equitable access to India’s top science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) colleges.

Vineet Singal, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CareMessage, has also been given the award in this category. His organisation is a US-based technology non-profit building the largest patient engagement platform for low-income populations in the US.

In the Collective Social Innovators category, the award recipients are people who bring together organisations to solve complex problems that cannot be tackled by individual actors.

These include Ved Arya, Director of the Buddha Institute and National Convener of the Responsible Coalition for Resilient Communities (RCRC), a collective of 98 grassroots civil society organisations across 15 states in India that formed during the Covid-19 pandemic due to its disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities.

Arya’s fellow RCRC leaders and 2025 Schwab Foundation Awardees include Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, and Apoorva Oza, Global Lead for Agriculture and Climate at non-profit the Aga Khan Foundation.

Ironhill at Kanakpura Road
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

What do you take into account while choosing a pub for a well-deserved timeout? I suppose its accessibility and insta-worthiness fade after the first few minutes — it is, after all, Bengaluru. There is no dearth of photo-friendly spots in the city and as for accessibility or rather the lack of it, it always factors in such decisions.

So I suppose that leaves one with the important points of food and drink, and that is where Ironhill at Konankunte checks all the boxes; remember, just because you have been to one of their branches, it does not mean they share a common menu.

Rock mushroom tempura at Ironhill, Kanakpura Road
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Like any self-respecting pub, Ironhill offers a tray of testers with eight of their brews — from an Indian Wit crafted from Sharabati wheat to a Coffee Stout — that should please anyone who takes their beer seriously. However, that set of eight includes a delightful chilli guava seltzer. A pale pink in hue, it makes for a refreshing start, especially for an afternoon of indulgence.

Hot toddy which is available on request is a favoured tipple around this time of year.

As we sit back and sip our chosen beers, the cheese jalapeno sticks arrive with the mushroom Ontario. Hot and crunchy, oozing the right amount of spice and gooey goodness, these cheesy bites make for a great starter. The Ontario, a creamy dish of mushroom served with garlic bread, is also a winner with its fine balance of herbs and condiments.

I am a carnivore and if I enjoy a restaurant’s vegetarian offerings, then the chef and menu makers have truly outdone themselves. Which is not to say the non-vegetarian items are to be scoffed at. The Nagin chilli chicken strips and tawa podi chicken are two examples of the range of fiery flavours in their offering of sides you can enjoy with your drink.

Desert heat at Ironhill, Kanakpura Road
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The koli chips (chicken chips) were passable — I was taken in by the name and wanted to know what they would be like. However, one name that piqued my curiosity and turned out to be a pleasant surprise was the sambhar chicken rice . A piping hot bowl of spicy, tangy sambar rice dotted with boneless nuggets of well-cooked chicken, it is a wonderful choice if you want something familiar and comforting. Sambhar mutton rice is also on the menu and even though both do not qualify as bar bites, I do not think there would be too many complaints whenever it is ordered.

Not surprising then that, Ironhill does not draw a line when it comes to cuisines — baos and pasta, burgers and pizza, momos and tacos, biryanis and grills are yours for the asking.

The chermoula chicken, a grilled offering served with chimichurri sauce, also met with murmurs of approval all around.

When it came to desserts the palakova samosa — an interesting take on a traditional sweet — won hands down. Apparently, you cannot go wrong with palkova ensconced in pastry and served with ice cream. And for those who are not too keen on experimenting at the end of a meal, the biscoff apple crumble will not disappoint.

Chicken taquitos at Ironhill, Kanakpura Road
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Ironhill Kanakpura is at Forum South Bengaluru, Konanakunte.

Hits: Mushroom Ontario, palakova samosa

Misses: Koli chips

Price for two: ₹1600

06

राजेश खन्ना के साथ तो मुमताज ने काफी काम किया था. उस दौरान उन्होंने ‘दो रास्ते’, ‘सच्चा-झूठा’, ‘आपकी कसम’, ‘अपना देश’ ‘प्रेम कहानी’, ‘दुश्मन’, ‘बंधन’ और ‘रोटी’ जैसी कई ऐसी फिल्मों में काम किया, जो यादगार बन गई थीं. (फोटो साभार: IMDB)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the meeting was thorough with lots of questions and answers
| Photo Credit: PTI

A suggestion to give Non-Resident Indians representation in Parliament was made on Tuesday (January 21, 2025) at the meeting of the parliamentary committee on External Affairs due to their growing numbers and unique issues concerning the diaspora interest.

Sources said Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda cited examples of countries like Italy, which has reservation in legislature for its citizens residing abroad, to pitch for having NRI representation in Parliament to cater to their issues in a better way.

The Standing Committee headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor discussed a number of issues concerning the Indian diaspora.

Mr. Tharoor told PTI after the meeting, “We had a very detailed and thorough discussion with four organisations working with the diaspora. MPs were very engaged.” It was a lively and full discussion with lots of questions and answers, he added.

Sources said the organisations participating in the meeting made some good proposals, including one from Kerala which said Indian organisations can skill people depending on the needs of any foreign country.

This will streamline the immigration of skilled workers and curb undesirable activities, including desperate attempts by people to reach foreign destinations, at times illegally, an MP said after the meeting.

Organisations which attended the meeting were Norka Roots from Kerala, Department of NRIs Affairs of the Punjab government, People of Indian Origin Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PIOCCI), Delhi and the Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat, from Gujarat.

The Ministry of External Affairs had informed the committee in an earlier meeting that a bill focusing on emigration issues is under the government’s consideration.

Mr. Tharoor said the Ministry had informed the panel that the bill is under preparation and discussion. One of the requests from state governments is that they should also be consulted, he added.

Kollu Ravindra. file
| Photo Credit: HAND OUT

Refuting the Opposition criticism that the special package announced by the Centre for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant(VSP) is no solution to save the plant from the threat of privatisation, Minister for Excise and Mines Kollu Ravindra gave full credit to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for securing it.

Addressing a media conference along with TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao at the TDP office here on Tuesday (January 21), Mr. Ravindra hailed Mr. Naidu for taking up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and convincing them to release funds for the revival of the steel plant. He recalled that even during his earlier stint as Chief Minister, Mr. Naidu had approached the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and convinced him to grant funds for saving VSP from being referred to the Board for Industrial Finance and Restructuring (BIFR), thereby saving it from the threat of closure.

Mr. Ravindra alleged that former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had failed to protect VSP during the last five years. On the contrary, Mr. Palla Srinivasa Rao had launched a fast-unto-death for protection of VSP. He said that the present government was instrumental in getting the foundation stone for construction of the South Coast Railway (S Co R) Zone headquarters in Visakhapatnam, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that 99% of the Bhogapuram International Airport works have been completed and 37% of the runway works were completed.

He said that Mr. Naidu had held talks with representatives of Arcelor Mittal at the WEF-2025 in Davos, for construction of a steel plant in Anakapalli district. Mr. Ravindra said that TCS and Google were keen on coming to Vizag. Work on the Polavaram project was progressing briskly.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that the Chief Minister had kept his election promise by securing funds to the tune of ₹11,400 crore from the Centre. He also thanked Union Steel Minister HD Kumara Swamy, BJP State president D. Purandeswari, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, and Minister Nara Lokesh for their contribution in this regard. The struggles by the steel workers for the past four-and-a-half years could not be forgotten. He alleged that a false narrative was created that the steel plant was going to be privatised. He felt that running the VSP to full capacity and allotment of captive mines would end the woes of the plant.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that the party membership has crossed 1 crore, and the use of technology has helped in early completion of the membership enrolment. TDP district president Gandi Babji was present.

A 30-year-old woman was found stabbed to death inside her house in broad daylight in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala on Tuesday (January 21, 2025), the police said.

The police rushed to the scene after receiving information and found Athira, 30, the wife of a priest working at a nearby temple, dead with a deep cut on her neck.

The police said that the attacker had stabbed her on the side of the neck and then dragged the knife, severing her jugular vein. The Kadinamkulam police said they were informed about the incident around 11.30 a.m.

They believe it happened sometime after her husband left for the temple at 5 a.m.

The police suspect that a young man from Ernakulam, who had befriended the woman through a social media platform, could be the attacker. They said the woman had been in contact with the man for some time, and he visited her house after her husband left for work.

Fled on woman’s scooter

There are no CCTV cameras near her house at Kadinamkulam, and the police are investigating to locate the suspect. They added that the man fled on the woman’s scooter.

Athira was a homemaker and is survived by her eight-year-old son.

Sukriti Veni Bandreddi, the 14-year-old lead actor of the Telugu film Gandhi Tatha Chettu, recalls her first day on set. “We were filming montage shots of my character, Gandhi, walking from home to school. I felt overwhelmed and struggled initially. I told myself to focus on just walking.” Sukriti was 12 at the time and had trained for two months with the film’s writer-director, Padmavathi Malladi, before heading to Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts in Telangana for the shoot.

After completing her first shot, Sukriti asked Padmavathi if her performance was satisfactory. Padmavathi encouraged her to take the lead and walk faster, so the scene would align visually with the idea of Gandhi walking ahead of others. Sukriti shares, “I learned to focus on small details, like keeping my back straight. I had to portray my character’s body language.”

When the film’s trailer was released, it surprised many followers of Telugu cinema to learn that Sukriti, the daughter of director Sukumar and Thabitha Sukumar, is making her acting debut.

With the film set to release in theaters on January 24, Sukriti reflects, “A friend who watched a preview told me I didn’t look or sound like myself on screen; all she saw was Gandhi. Looking back, I wonder if I should have sounded more mature. At the time, when the director described Gandhi as an innocent, energetic girl, I interpreted her as a child and spoke in a childlike voice.”

The dialogues were recorded using sync sound (capturing sound live on set rather than in a studio). “Everyone would go silent when the director said action, and we focused on getting everything right. If we made a mistake in one line, we had to start again,” Sukriti recalls.

Set in rural Telangana during the early 2000s, Gandhi Tatha Chettu brings out a sense of place and time. Sukriti, born and raised in Hyderabad, attended summer courses at Berklee College of Music in 2023 and 2024, where she studied music theory and singing. During this interview at Mythri Movie Makers’ office in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Sukriti comes across as a typical urban high school student.

However, she easily switches to the Telangana Telugu dialect, which she has been familiar with since childhood. “I loved the village where we filmed and even made some friends. When the schedule ended, I asked my mom if we could stay longer.”

Acting was not a planned pursuit for Sukriti, who had been more inclined toward music. “As a child, I listened to a lot of Telugu music. Over time, I was exposed to Mexican, Turkish, and Spanish music, which broadened my perspective.”

At school, Sukriti was initially hesitant about singing. “The lead guitarist of the school band asked if I could sing. At first I refused but eventually agreed until they could find someone else. I ended up staying. The band focused on rock music.”

After moving to a new school, Sukriti’s music teacher encouraged her to explore pop and other genres, sparking her interest further. Her first summer programme at Berklee in 2023 was both educational and enjoyable. “I met so many interesting people and told my mom I wanted to return the next year.”

Sukriti with her parents Thabitha and director Sukumar
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Sukriti says she is open to exploring both singing and acting opportunities. When she first learned that the makers of Gandhi Tatha Chettu were considering her for the lead role, she was hesitant. “My parents encouraged me,” she shares.

During her initial meeting with producer Sesha Sindhu Rao and director Padmavathi Malladi, the duo noticed Sukriti’s enthusiasm as she recounted events from her school. Her animated narrations convinced Padmavathi that she had the energy and presence of an actor. That conversation turned out to be her informal audition. “I tend to talk a lot once I feel comfortable with people,” Sukriti says with a laugh. “They gave me a few lines to learn, and before I knew it, I was part of the film.”

Sukriti’s initial nervousness on set faded within a few hours as she grew comfortable in front of the camera. She even had no hesitation in shaving her head for a pivotal scene. “I told my friends at school that I shaved during a trip to Tirupati. I did not want to give away any spoilers,” she explains. The experience boosted her confidence. “I went around wearing hoodies, and I think I looked cool. The fun part was that when my hair grew back, it naturally fell into the layers of the wolf cut I had before.”

Sukriti recalls that filming the climax of the movie was both physically and emotionally demanding. The team had to complete a nine-minute sequence in a single day. With hundreds of villagers gathered and the threat of rain looming, the pressure was on. “I used glycerine at first, but I started crying for real within a few minutes. I had done crying scenes before, but the climax required close-ups, which was challenging. I remember thinking, ‘If I don’t get this right, what will I do with myself?’” She managed to deliver the scene in one take. As the tension eased, she noticed her back hurting. “My mom reminded me that I had been on my knees for the scene, so of course, it would hurt,” she says.

After the shoot, Sukriti returned to her usual routine of school and music. For nearly two years, she continued wearing the round glasses she had used for the film. Meanwhile, Gandhi Tatha Chettu was screened at several film festivals, and Sukriti received a few awards for her performance. “It felt validating,” she admits.

Looking ahead, Sukriti is unsure if she will pursue acting in the near future. However, she is certain about one thing: she wants to teach music someday. “I want to be a music teacher and work with kids,” she says.

A view of Vellore Central Prison. Representational image. File
| Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy

The Madras High Court on Tuesday (January 22, 2025) directed the Accountant General of Tamil Nadu (AGTN) to depute a team of 10 officers to conduct audits at all eight central prisons across the State with respect to the use of the Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Fund.

Justices S.M. Subramaniam and M. Jothiraman issued the direction after including suo motu the AGTN as one of the respondents to a writ petition filed by the relative of a prisoner and ordered submission of the audit report before the court by January 30, 2025.

M. Deepalakhsmi of Virudhachalam in Cuddalore district had filed the writ petition stating that her husband Mudikondan alias Senthilkumar was convicted in a murder case in 2015 and sentenced to life. The punishment was confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2018.

The petitioner’s counsel P. Pugalendhi told the court that the trial court had ordered provision of ‘A’ class facilities to the convict in the prison after taking into consideration that he was a panchayat president before conviction, an income tax assessee and was also doing social service.

Alleging that the ‘A’ class privileges provided to the petitioner’s husband, since 2015, were withdrawn suddenly three months ago, the counsel said, even the newspapers supplied to him were being censored in order to not let him read any news related to prisons and courts.

The petitioner also stated that though 20% of the wages due to the prisoners were being deducted for the purpose of augmenting the Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Fund, the fund was not being utilised properly to provide monetary assistance to victims of criminal offences.

Claiming to have made a representation to the prison officials to extend ‘A’ class facilities to her husband besides ensuring effective utilisation of the victim compensation fund, the petitioner sought a direction to the Home Secretary and other officials to consider her representation.