JOIN USAs they were handed over a bill for ‘masala dosa’, ‘plain dosa’ and ‘filter coffee’, viewers at the Rangoli Metro Arts Centre, who braved the heavy rains, wondered what the evening had in store for them before entering the auditorium. It was only when the waiter welcomed them to ‘Bangalore Love Expresso’ did they realise that these were tickets they had booked for the thoroughly entertaining show.
Organised by ‘Murmurs of the Metropolis’ (a group of artistes passionate about projecting various facets of Bengaluru through their work), the show brilliantly showcased love and relationships in the city through poetry, short plays, short films, photo essays and music.
“Love could take any form — it could be between a young working couple, an artist and his art, child and parents or even aspects of the city that people cherish and feel connected to. ‘Bangalore Love Expresso’ is a genuine attempt to portray just that,” said Ratnakar, one of the founding members of the group.
The emcee, dressed as a waiter, welcomed spectators to his restaurant, bantering about the rains, the varieties of ‘dosas’ at his famous joint and people visiting the place. The opening performance titled ‘Swipe Right’ was about a young engineer who comes on a date to this restaurant but keeps putting his foot in his mouth with comments like ‘Are you really an engineer, I thought you must be in HR or marketing!’, ‘You’re a true blue Bangalorean’ (when the girl’s mother is Punjabi) and laughing at her philosophical WhatsApp status. He tries to take some advice from a middle-aged man on doing better and the act hilariously ends with the girl rejoicing when Virat Kohli loses a match against Kings XI Punjab.
‘Magaa Series’, a rib-tickling film shot by one of the members, showed how painful it is sometimes to deal with one’s girlfriend and nearly difficult to win an argument but nonetheless it is better to suffer with someone than alone. It was wonderfully shot and had the crowd in splits of laughter.
One of them showcased a child’s dilemma whose parents are about to get separated and she’s left wondering if it’s good or bad. She laments that she will no longer get to enjoy with them together at Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, Koshy’s and Lakeview Milkbar but ultimately convinces herself with the idea that her friends’ parents and celebrities also got divorced so it’s fine. She wonders if they would stop loving her as well. It also showed how today’s couples don’t want to sacrifice their careers, even when it comes to fulfilling commitments with their children.
Another comic portrayal showed a ‘wannabe’ cool student of an art institute in the city trying to describe an installation in his own way while he gets admonished by another man for being so flippant about art.
However, once the artist justifies his piece, this man is convinced and apologises to the student. The last act revolved around a funny conversation in Kannada that ensues between an old lady and a random person at Shivajinagar Police Station. Though irritated with his nudging, the lady later confesses that she has lost her wallet and more valuable than anything is her grandchildren’s photos in it for her son left with his family for Australia. The changing family relationships and values came to the fore in a skillful manner.
The emcee kept everyone entertained by narrating his own love story with his ‘jaanu’ and introducing every new theme through an interesting interaction with the crowd.
‘The Rickshaw Muse’, performers of poetry with songs, beautifully painted themes like love, relationships, breakups, the city’s monsoon and weather, solitude and wishful thinking, while Mahesh presented some mellifluous songs on his guitar talking about different kinds of love.
The videos captured the fragrance of the city through the works of artist Bakula Nayak (who paints on vintage paper with tea pens), Paul Fernandes’ vibrant sketches and watercolour paintings and English photographer Clare Arni who feels at home in Bengaluru.
The 90-minute show was truly an enjoyable roller coaster ride of different elements and emotions through various art forms. Roli, a visitor, aptly remarked, “The show brought the whole city together and perfectly showcased all the elements that make Bengaluru. Be it the IT crowd, the food or the rains, everything was nicely woven together. It was thoroughly entertaining and I could connect to it really well.”