Zooming in on Pune

A transformation of sorts has happened . This city is the latest toast of lovers of global music.

A transformation of sorts has happened . This city is the latest toast of lovers of global music. It now accommodates international music artistes and performers with charm and ease. Pune is the newest buzzword for the most anticipated live music acts in the country,with T-Pain being the latest international artiste to perform (March 10). There is no doubt about it,the city has undergone a metamorphosis, declares Aryan Navale of Statosphere Entertainment. Navale was the conduit that got in the likes of Sean Kingston,Flo-Rida and Akcent to perform in Pune last year. Preferences have changed. Trends have seen a role reversal. As the exposure of the people widens,so do the expectations of larger-than-life events.

Software engineer Shruti Mehra from Delhi,who resides in the city,had attended the Bryan Adams concerts in Pune and Mumbai,as well as the Flo-Rida concert in Pune. The difference was very evident during the Bryan Adams show. Pune,which never had a show of that magnitude before,had a more energetic crowd as compared to Mumbai,where these shows are a common affair. I think it is the fresh appeal the crowds generate here that is drawing more artistes to the city, she says.

Getting international acts to perform means putting in place some serious logistical planning. While bigger cities could easily trump up infrastructural superiority,Pune has caught up efficiently over the years. A few years back we could have said that we lacked the infrastructure,but now there are bigger grounds and also an upcoming stadium at Ravet. When big artistes will keep coming in,the exposure and demand would just get better, says Sameer Desai of Seagull Advertising.

Navale points to another strong draw of the city. Younger audiences,comprising students and working executives who are not afraid of spending money to come see their favourite artistes. The artistes too want to meet and interact more and more with young listeners. Pune is one place that provides that opportunity. In the next couple of months,we will have Pit-Bull in the city too. Desai agrees,With both national and international companies and even people coming to the city for work,the average Punekar’s sensibility has changed. The changes are not only reflected in the way the people here talk,dress or eat,but even in the way they think. So when a Bryan Adams comes down,the expectations are sky high. And artistes love the huge crowd turnouts. It’s a win-win situation for everybody.

Interestingly,Pratik Arora,an MBA student in the city,who attended the Great Indian Rock Festival that had Meshuggah perform in the city says that,while international artistes are coming in,most of them still are from the more popular hip-hop or pop genres. Heavy Metal is still a niche segment,both in the country and the city. Even then,having these foreign bands coming to the city to play showcases the fact that Pune is ready to go international. The city is ready to accept these artistes.

Fact-Sheet Sean Kingston: Doesn’t like to drink or smoke. Finds it annoying to spend time with such people

Flo-Rida: Loves Indian food. Ate Indian food when he was in the city for his concert. The concert cost the organisers a cool Rs 50 Lakhs Akcent: The group finds Indian women to be very beautiful. In their own words,’exotic’ Bryan Adams: Is a vegan and travels with his cook everywhere. Outside his rock star image,the Canadian loves to live a simple life. His concert in Pune was worth a whopping five and a half crores

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Rocking Acts Flo-rida: September 26 Sean Kingston: Oct 1 Meshuggah: Dec 17 Akcent: Dec 9 Bryan Adams: Feb 11,2011

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