Moolah rouge: Bangalore City lives it up

Bangalore is no longer what it used to be: a pensioner’s paradise—quiet, relaxed and simple. It’s now a bustling hub of mixed cultures, different people and big money to spend. The BPO boom has brought in career opportunities, heavier pay packet and manpower from all over the country, vying for a good life. Fresh graduates constitute a large part of this brigade and with more-than-decent pay cheques at the end of the month, the youth is now upwardly mobile and has money to spend … lots of it.

More disposable income means more two-wheelers or cars, more branded items, and more entertainment. And that is exactly what Bangalore is spending its buck on. Clothing brands are opening up branches in every area of the city, commercial or residential. The Reebok, Nike and Adidas stores are never empty. If the sporting brands do for casual wear, the party wardrobe is straight off the racks of Tommy Hilfiger, Esprit, Mango or Nautica.

To cater to the fashion conscious junta, malls have come up all across the city. It’s never a dull day at Forum, Garuda or Central. Buying a new cell phone or an X Box 360 is passé. Purchasing a bike or a small car on an EMI scheme is nothing out of the ordinary, and mind you, all these are racked up on the gold cards of the twenty to thirty-somethings.

The spending doesn’t just stop at clothes, shoes, accessories and electronics. Money flows at the pubs and night clubs all across town. The social calendar for the week is someplace new every night. Be it Olive, Opus, Athena or 13th Floor, no one thinks twice about shelling out a big amount for a drink.

Health and fitness is also a major part of the smart, working youth’s lifestyle. Elite gyms like Chisel, Gold’s Gym or Talwakars, all charge high monthly membership fees, yet there is no dearth of members. Some might pay for a gym to get fit while other city slickers spend their money on dance classes to stay in shape. The booming business at Lourd Vijay’s Dance Studio stands testament to that.

Restaurants have sprung up in every nook and cranny of the city. One can eat anything and at any price in Bangalore: Japanese at Harima, Thai food at Asean, Afghan fare at Samarkand, high-end Chinese at Mainland China and continental at Sunny’s or Spiga. And for those who really want to dine in style there are five-star hotels like The Leela Palace, The Park or Taj Westend.

If one is not eating, shopping or sipping coffee in their leisure time, she is at the theatre. Bangalore loves its movies, so either you pull a few strings and book in advance or brave the long queue at any of the cinema halls to catch a flick. PVR is almost always a full house for every show and the same applies for INOX as well. You might just get lucky with Symphony, Rex or the Multiplex in Marthahalli. If the theatres are full you could seek your thrill at the many bowling alleys and pool parlours.

There is never a dull moment in this city that works hard and spends harder.