OTC Road - Chickpet Stretch

  Time Travel. Now playing at Vijayalakshmi Talkies, Chickpet

Old Taluk Catchery Road or OTC Road has a special place in Benglur's short history. It was what South Parade or MG Road was to the Cantonment. It stretched from Cottonpet to Corporation (George Oakes Building) and here in Chickpet, it's known plainly as Chickpet. The oldest surviving theater in this part of town is the Vijayalakshmi Talkies. And if you are a Dr Rajkumar fan who loves to see his larger-than-life presence on a big screen, this is where you should go. This week you can take a trip back to 1985 and watch the movie Dhruva Taare. Time travel is cheap too. A front row seat will cost you Rs 21/-; balcony: Rs 30/- The poster outside the theater says that the movie will be preceded by the 'Indian News Trailor'! When was the last time that was ever played in a movie theater?

The Which Main? What Cross? Exhibition F&B, Papanna Street, St Marks Road. Ph: 080 - 40 333 888

30 select photographs from this blog are on display until May 31st '09. If you happen to be in that part of town, please do walk in look at their 'Art Wall'.

     

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2nd Cross Gandhinagar + BVK Iyengar Road + Albert Victor Road + OTC Road

Mise En Place (Everything in place)

Benglur gets ready for the day's business. From the fruit juice shop in Majestic to the demoltion man  sharpening his tools, everyone is putting things in place for the day's business. 

Shubh Labh. 

Mise En Place is the French phrase used in kitchens around the world for setting up the kitchen before the day's business. It is also what Chef Anthony Bourdain claims to be his religion. The cinema equivalent is Mise En Scène.

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OTC Road, Cottonpet

This Benglur Street Photoblog is still stuck on OTC Road. And for good reason. Here, facing each other are two kinds of traders. One next to the Dargah that is manned by bearded men in serious discussion about life and music as they also sell lucky stones that ward of evil and bring good luck.  Opposite them is a couple selling junk jewellery with an FM radio blaring the local Hindi music station called Radio One. Who would you expect to make more money? My guess is that the it's those who do not look like traders. 

OTC Road, Cottonpet

Topless at Dharmasthala. Suits to work. Black tees to rock concerts. Bermuda chaddis to the beach. Silk sarees to weddings. Jeans and tee to college. Black lungi to Shabarimala. And here's what some people wore at the Cottonpet Dargah Urs. 

OTC Road

Like every other religious congregation in India, the festival at the dargah at  Cottonpet is also an excuse for people to come together and mix with each other. The original social network. And yes, there's a play area to keep the children busy.  

OTC Road

It's Urs time at the Dargah Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan and now is probably one of the best times to visit OTC Road in Cottonpet. The road is blocked late in the evening to set up the stage and hook up the concert size sound boxes. The music begins late and continues early into the morning filling the air with songs about love. Love for the lord above and his many forms that dot the Old Taluk Catchery Road (OTC). This road probably has the largest number of shrines rubbing shoulders with each other. Starting with the maginficent Dharmaraja Koil Temple on the Corporation end to The Dargah on the Cottonpet end. And that's the route the Benglur Karaga takes.

Yes. The Cottonpet Dargah has a special place because when the city celebrates its most important festival - The Benglur Karaga, this Dargah is a mandatory stop.  

OTC Road

At the Aastana-e-Hazrat Khwaja - Syedshah Sharfudeen Khadri Shaheed Shrine. Next to Luciya Hotel.

OTC Road, Near Corporation

Different hats

OTC Rd., Cottonpet

Lure of Bangalore Series

Name: Mangal Singh Yadav. From: Agra, UP. Why? To sell these dolls he makes.
Mangal Singh Yadav has been selling these dolls for 40 years now. He started out from outside Red Fort in Delhi. During the Indira Gandhi regime, when pavement sellers were cleared, he moved to Mumbai. After a long stint there, he is now in Bangalore. However his family members, including his grown up sons, are in Agra. We were happy to note that both of us still carry our expired second class Mumbai local train passes with us, wherever we go.

The rest of the Lure of Bangalore series.

OTC Road, Cottonpet

Silver hair, gold ornaments and flowers.
A lady sells flowers, cotton and incense sticks outside the Hazrath Sharfudeen Shah Qadri Dargah on Old Taluk Cutchery Rd. But why is she selling it outside a dargah? That's because this dargah is a major stop for the Hindu Karaga procession, making it popular among both Muslims and Hindus.