Life & Style

At a time when Artificial Intelligence (AI) is posing a serious threat to creativity, printmaking is thumbing its nose at it. The artistic process that can traces its roots to 3000 BCE — when cylinder seals were used in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley — has an inbuilt sense of mobility that is hard to silence. One of the reasons why it’s having a moment in 2026.

In Kolkata, the third edition of the Print Biennale is on (till February 15) at the Lalit Kala Akademi. Featuring over 204 artists from across the globe, it highlights contemporary printmaking. In the national capital, Dhoomimal Gallery is opening an exhibition titled Print Age – The Art of Printmaking in the Age of AI Reproduction (on February 3), in conjunction with the India Art Fair. It will show a collection of 156 original prints created by 80 artists from various backgrounds and eras, including Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Anish Kapoor, Jyoti Bhatt, and contemporary Indian artists. All of this begs the question: why is printmaking thriving in the age of AI?

The Print Biennale in Kolkata

“Printmaking in India is thriving not in spite of difficulties but [because it is working] through them — shaped by a lack of awareness among the general public, the absence of studio facilities, and persistent market challenges,” says Krishna Setty, curator of the Print Biennale and commissioner at Lalit Kala Akademi. “These constraints have compelled printmakers to innovate, collaborate, share resources, and continually rethink the conceptual, technical, and social possibilities of the medium, giving contemporary Indian printmaking a renewed vitality and critical relevance.” The Akademi has long been a great support to printmaking; its new Regional Centre offers state-of-the-art printmaking studios.

“We have an extensive, and often ignored, history of printmaking in India. Our visual landscape has been shaped by print culture over the centuries, and this exhibition draws from the many significant private and institutional collections in Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Delhi that have amassed important works over time. Also included are new works created by younger artists.” Johny M.L. Curator, Print Age

Just another design tool

Printmaking, historically, also holds an important place in Indian culture. “The Quit India Movement was made viable through the many leaflets and posters made by India’s dedicated team of printmakers, like Chittorprasad, Bimal Roy, Zainul Abedin and Somnath Hore,” observes art historian and collector Neville Tuli. “In fact, Chittorprasad travelled extensively in the famine-stricken areas of Bengal to document and report on the dire conditions of the people, which triggered outrage and revolution.” It is upon this strong culture that printmakers now build their community.

Artist N. Roerich’s Town (Ominious) at Dhoomimal Gallery

And new challenges and technologies are all grist for their mill. For printmakers, AI is just another tool in their artmaking arsenal. “The history of printmaking is testimony to the continuous appropriation of technology by printmakers,” says artist and researcher Paula Sengupta, who has curated the group exhibition PURVAI: Printmaking in Eastern India – Pedagogy to Practice, at Emami Art in Kolkata (till March 7). “When digital technology made its presence felt, printmakers harnessed it to make digitally-aided prints, more often than not combining it with traditional processes. Likewise, AI is the new tool to capture their imagination.”

PURVAI traces contemporary printmaking across Eastern India and features 44 artists and collectives from the Northeastern states, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. “Its purpose is to demonstrate the versatility of the medium as applied and extended by vibrant creative minds,” Sengupta adds.

Pradip Das’ Untitled (engraving on plaster, wood, acrylic, iron, and magnifying lens)

Subrat Kumar Behera’s The Cursed Tree (lithography on paper)

A more democratic art scene

Today, printmaking is witnessing renewed interest worldwide because of the dedicated efforts of artists, institutes and networks — for a medium that is technically demanding yet economically within the reach of the young collector. As printmaker D.D. Apte puts it, that makes “all the effort of keeping alive the techniques worth the while”. Uday Jain, director of Dhoomimal Gallery, adds that this renewed vigour in the processes, and the continued growth of confidence in the international art marketplace in prints, has created an urgency too for exhibitions of this nature.

“Printmaking, like ceramics, is a very skilled and technical process, and requires the human touch to execute. I think this is where it scores over AI, even more than painting, which can be somewhat replicated.”Rahul KumarCeramist and curator

“Collectors are beginning to understand not only the historic but also the material value of limited-edition prints by master printmakers,” he says, adding, “As we enter an era with AI being used in creative fields, original art will become much more relevant and in demand.” Moreover, printmaking involves technology and may at times combine the qualities of paintings as well as digital art forms. “The art scene now is more democratic than ever before. Textile videos, photography performance art, print-making, canvas paintings and art works on paper all form a large landscape of art portfolios today. And these don’t have to be at war with each other but rather be in harmony and give audiences more choice,” says Jain.

Print Age at Dhoomimal Gallery
| Photo Credit:
Rajeev Dabra

This is reflected in the focus on printmaking across government agencies too: Lalit Kala is supporting the Print Biennale; the Delhi Collage of Art and the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda have flourishing print-making departments; and the Sarvajanik School of Fine Arts in Surat is known for hosting intensive workshops on techniques such as etching and reduction process. “Several prestigious art institutes and specialised centres around the world support printmaking through dedicated studios, academic programmes, and artist-in-residence opportunities,” states printmaker Ananda Moy Banerji.

And these institutions of art, small and big printmaking studios, and galleries “…demonstrate that printmakers are thriving and printmaking is here to stay”, concludes Sengupta.

The writer is a Delhi-based independent art critic and curator.

Published – February 01, 2026 10:16 am IST

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman coming out of Kartavya Bhavan, in New Delhi ahead of Union Budget on February 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy

At 3 pm, between sets on the second day of Lollapalooza India, 27-year-old Shivang Verma sat under a large tent, dressed in a grey Linkin Park T-shirt, waiting for the band’s first-ever performance in Mumbai. The software engineer from Lucknow had come for the closing act of the global festival’s fourth Indian edition. Like many others, he was drawn in the moment rumours of Linkin Park headlining the festival were confirmed.

“When I heard the rumours, I started saving up,” says Shivang, who also supports his parents. Attending the festival solo, he spent around ₹10,000 on flights, ₹15,000 on his ticket and another ₹15,000 on accommodation. “I had to be here, no matter what,” he says, adding that like many fans, he misses Chester Bennington but was excited to see the band reunite and release a new album in 2024.

Lollapalooza Day 2,
| Photo Credit:
Abdulkader

In just a year, India has hosted live performances by global heavyweights such as Coldplay, Guns N’ Roses, Tom Morello and Travis Scott. Lollapalooza’s previous edition featured punk-rock icons Green Day alongside Shawn Mendes and Glass Animals. With Indian artists touring frequently as well, the surge in sold-out concerts, especially those curated for under-35 audiences, largely Gen Z, is unmistakable. Ticket prices, often justified as ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences for die-hard fans, have risen in tandem.

“I don’t spend recklessly on concerts or live experiences,” says Shivang. Many Gen Z attendees I spoke to at Lollapalooza echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the steep ticket prices and exercising restraint on discretionary spending, both at the venue and in everyday life. Yet most also admitted to having felt left out in the past — social-media-driven FOMO, they said, is very real.

“There were concerts I skipped, but after seeing how they played out on social media, I did feel like I missed something,” says 23-year-old Mumbai-based graphic designer Siddharth Dhevar.

Lollapalooza India 2026 featured a strong line-up beyond Linkin Park, with names such as Playboi Carti, YUNGBLUD, Kehlani, Fuji Kaze, Knock2, LANY and Sammy Virji drawing enthusiastic crowds. Co-produced and promoted by BookMyShow, Lollapalooza India reflects a booming concert economy. According to BookMyShow’s Throwback 2025 report, live entertainment events rose to 34,086 in 2025, an 11% increase over 2024, while overall consumption grew by 17% year-on-year. “2025 was the year the concert economy levelled up,” the report notes. That growth is borne out by a Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting white paper presented at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) last May, which pegged India’s live events market at ₹20,861 crore in 2024 — a 15% year-on-year increase, well above the global average of 8–10%.

Linkin Park performs on the BudX Stage as the final act of Lollapalooza India 2026 | Photo: BookMyShow Live

People creating fun memories at Lollapalooza India 2026
| Photo Credit:
Abdulkader

This raises an inevitable question. Against the backdrop of a recent LinkedIn survey in which 80% of Gen Z respondents said they expect job prospects to become tougher in 2026, what is driving this rapidly growing concert economy? And how do young people justify spending a significant portion of their savings on experiences like Lollapalooza India, even as over 75% of Gen Z plan to switch jobs for better pay?

“I usually save up, so when it comes to experiences like Lollapalooza, I can afford it,” says 25-year-old Namita Chalil, a Mumbai-based SEO analyst who lives with her parents and saves on rent. Missing out on Coldplay last year, she admits, came with a dose of social-media-induced FOMO.

Others spoke of practical adjustments. Poorva Patole, 25, cut accommodation costs by staying with a friend in Mumbai, while her colleague Devika Sharma, 27, who flew in from Delhi, stayed with her grandparents. “We both work from home, which helps us save. That’s what allows me to attend concerts of artists I truly love,” says Devika.

Several Gen Z attendees also said food and beverages at the venue were steeply priced, prompting familiar cost-cutting hacks. Many also felt that Lollapalooza tickets — priced between ₹6,500 and ₹10,000 for general admission — offered better value than single-artist concerts, given the multi-artist line-up.

Yet beneath the calculations lies a lingering sense of catching up. “I missed Coldplay, Green Day and Guns N’ Roses last year because I was busy,” says Arvind Khandekar, 27, an MBA student in Delhi who travelled to Mumbai for Linkin Park’s set, spending around ₹11,000–12,000 on flights. “My savings from a previous job made this possible,” he adds, noting that he limits concerts to artists he genuinely admires to keep FOMO in check.

Financial literacy may not be formally taught, but Gen Z appears to be learning it in real time. The rising frequency of high-profile concerts, the pressure of missing out, and the true cost of live experiences are pushing young audiences to be more deliberate and accountable about how they spend their money on music-led moments.

Friends at Lollapalooza India 2026, Day 2 | Photo: BookMyShow Live

“I usually plan my finances around the concerts or festivals I want to attend,” says 27-year-old Aditya (named changed by request), who works in finance, lives in Bengaluru and was attending Lollapalooza India in Mumbai for the third time. “In the lead-up, I cut back on unnecessary spending — eating out, ordering food — anything I can save on.” Travelling with friends, he adds that staying in hostels and eating light before and after concerts at affordable places helps keep costs down.

Then there is also the rise of a new consumer segment — ‘event tourists’, those who travel across cities or States for live concerts and festivals. According to the Throwback 2025 report, over 5.6 lakh people travelled for music concerts in 2025, an 18% jump from the previous year. Verma, Patole, Sharma, Khandekar and Aditya — like many at Lollapalooza India — fall squarely into this category.

The economic impact is significant. Using Coldplay’s Ahmedabad concert as a case study, the report notes that for every ₹100 spent on tickets, an additional ₹585 went towards travel, hospitality and shopping. The concert generated an estimated ₹641 crore across industries, much of it driven by event tourism.

But event tourism comes with risks. Accommodation prices often surge, and postponements or cancellations can prove costly. John Mayer’s much-anticipated India debut, scheduled for January 22 in Mumbai, was postponed just eight days before the show, prompting fans to voice frustration over non-refundable flights and hotel bookings. On the same day, Bandland — a major rock and metal festival in Bengaluru — was also cancelled.

Despite these uncertainties, big-ticket concerts show no signs of slowing down. Rock legends Def Leppard and Scorpions are set to perform in Mumbai in the coming months. Tickets for such single-artist shows, often positioned as celebrations of music history, start at around ₹4,000 — and many fans are willing to pay the price.

Aerial view of Lollapalooza India 2026 | Photo: BookMyShow Live

Tears of witnessing history being made were evident on several faces as Linkin Park closed the festival. With all things being said and done, sometimes a price tag for such experiences can be overlooked because in our hearts we know that our inner child deserves it. And because in the end, that does matter.

It is not an understatement to say that the sofa is the most frequently used and the most visible piece of furniture in any home. It is almost the functional and emotional anchor of the living space. “It is often the first thing you see when you enter a home. Choosing a sofa is less about simply filling up a space but more about shaping how the room is experienced, every single day,” says Angelique Dhama, president, Obeetee Carpets and Home, headquartered in New Delhi.

Blisscape sofa by Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba.
| Photo Credit:
Poltrona Frau

It is significant to note that a sofa also occupies a lot of visual space.

Long way to go

“Its scale, shape and material influence how the entire room feels and functions. It often becomes the reference point around which the rest of the furniture is arranged. Thus, choosing the right sofa is all about understanding how you live, whether you entertain often, prefer lounging, or need something more structured. When it aligns with your daily habits, the sofa then naturally becomes a strong, long-term foundation for the space,” says Somya Vohra, co-founder of Ravoh, a Gurugram-based contemporary luxury brand.

Angelique Dhama of Obeetee.

Jack of all trades

A sofa should be chosen with equal attention to form, function and intent. “The sofa should always be proportionate to the space of the home and aligned with its overall décor sensibilities. Equally important is its functionality and timeless appeal, as a well-made sofa should balance everyday comfort with enduring style and remain relevant for years to come,” says Anurag Kanoria, director of The Great Eastern Home. Located in Mumbai, the space showcases a collection of antiques, handcrafted furniture, vintage collectibles, and fine art, drawing inspiration from global styles such as Art Deco, French, and Colonial. Comfort is non-negotiable and must be felt every time you lounge on your sofa, as has been rightly pointed out.

Luxurious purple upholstery paired with hand-carved gold accents.
| Photo Credit:
The Great Eastern Home

Materiality is important in fabrics and finishes should age gracefully, and the sofa should converse naturally with its surroundings, especially with elements like rugs, lighting and architecture.

Anurag Kanoria of The Great Eastern Home.

“Beyond that, the quality of internal construction, joinery and cushioning determines longevity. Upholstery should be selected based on use, climate and maintenance requirements, while the structure should allow for repairs rather than replacement. We also need to consider flexibility: whether the sofa can adapt to changing layouts, growing families, or evolving lifestyles,” says Joya Nandurdikar, founding partner, Furgonomics, a product design brand located in New Delhi.

According to Amit Pai, managing director, Poltrona Frau India — an Italian company with stores in Surat, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi and its flagship in Mumbai — the current sofa design trends are centred on comfort-driven aesthetics and modular versatility. There is also a renewed emphasis on personal expression, seen in bold yet inviting forms. Along with this, there is a clear move towards restraint, softness and materials.

Here is a look at some key trends expected in the sofa space this year.

Shift incoming

There is a definite shift towards softer, more generous forms that encourage lounging rather than formal sitting.

Joya Nandurdikar of Furgonomics.

“Designs are shifting away from rigid, formal structures, which leave little room for flexibility or nuanced living, and are moving towards softer, more relaxed forms. These shapes invite more use and movement,” says Sajal Lamba, co-founder & director of Gurugram-based Wriver.

“Sofa designs today favour gentle curves, relaxed silhouettes, and forms that feel intuitive rather than engineered,” adds Dhama. Curved and organic shapes as well as rounded edges are replacing rigid, straight lines, making seating more inviting which is again a reflection of how modern homes are becoming more easy-going and lived-in.

Amit Pai of Poltrona Frau, India.

Modular, flexible forms

Modular sofas are gaining prominence, allowing spaces to adapt as living patterns evolve. Sections can be reconfigured for lounging, hosting, or even work-from-home setups, reflecting the multifunctional needs of modern homes. “Modular designs are a big shift; people want sofas they can move around, reconfigure, or adapt as their needs change. There’s also a noticeable move toward stronger, more architectural forms as well as generous proportions that prioritise comfort,” adds Vohra.

An adaptable comfort in a thoughtful in detail.
| Photo Credit:
Ankush Maria

Many designs now incorporate deeper seats and extended chaises that make them comfortable for both sitting and reclining. There’s also a growing emphasis on built-in functionality, from hidden storage to movable backrests or arm elements that adjust to different postures.

This makes the sofa suitable for working, relaxing, or entertaining without changing the furniture entirely.

A sculptural sofa with rounded base and upholstered seating.
| Photo Credit:
The Great Eastern Home

Focus on craftsmanship

There is a refreshed interest in craftsmanship, visible stitching, layered upholstery, and thoughtful detailing that is slowly replacing purely minimalist forms. “Sustainability is playing a vital role in design choices, with more emphasis on responsibly sourced materials and quality craftsmanship.

The DUO Collection.
| Photo Credit:
Poltrona Frau

The focus is on creating sofas that are well-made, durable, and timeless — pieces that are meant to last rather than follow fleeting trends,” adds Kanoria. There is also a shift away from overt statements, towards pieces that feel quietly confident; designed to last, both stylistically and structurally.

“There is a renewed appreciation for natural materials like leather, stone and wood when used with clarity and purpose,” adds Pai. Natural and tactile materials are leading the conversation — think handwoven textiles, cotton blends, linens, wool, and leathers with a lived-in finish. “Sofas are moving towards softer fabrics with a natural feel, textiles that invite everyday use and develop character over time rather than needing constant upkeep. You’ll often see these paired with visible structural elements like wood or metal, which add contrast and a sense of grounding to the piece,” adds Vohra.

Further, tactile fabrics such as linen blends, bouclé, cotton and wool add warmth and depth, helping create textures that feel cosy, layered, and visually interesting. According to Dhama, solid Indian teak wood and antique-finished woods are in vogue for their natural grain, strength, and ability to age beautifully. Italian Carrara marble is increasingly favoured for its timeless elegance and soft, organic veining, while brass-plated details and metal medallions are being used as refined accents that add character.

Calm colour palettes

Soft neutrals and earthy tones like sun-washed beiges, muted browns, gentle terracotta and subtle greens continue to be popular. “Neutrals have always dominated and for good reason. They work in any setting, and they allow the furniture to move around as homes and spaces change,” adds Lamba. Further, these colours feel less rigid than stark whites or greys and are easier to build around as tastes evolve.

The right sofa should stand the test of time, not just in how it looks, but in how it is lived with. As a piece that carries everyday life, everywhere and all at once, it demands a mindful approach. More than a design choice, a well-made sofa quietly shapes how a home is used, experienced, and remembered. Chosen well, it goes a long way.

Price points:

Obeetee: ₹1,20,000 upwards;

The Great Eastern Home: ₹2,25,000 upwards

Furgonomics: ₹1,56,000

Wriver: ₹1,67,000 upwards

Popular trend

Modularity is the most preferred. The most popular sofas are those with modular configurations, extended lounging formats, and integrated functionality that supports different moments of the day. Modular sofas are gaining prominence, allowing spaces to adapt as living patterns evolve. Sections can be reconfigured for lounging, hosting, or even work-from-home setups, reflecting the multifunctional needs of modern homes.

Tips

Unlike decorative objects, a sofa must endure time, use, and changing rhythms of living. It should feel reassuring on the first day and remain so years later. A sofa must be designed for utility first, offering proper support and ease, but it should do so in a way that also contributes visually to the space. Since it is used for sitting every day, often for long periods, comfort, proportions, and support are critical.

The Bengaluru-based freelance writer is passionate about all things design, travel, food, art and culture.

Last year, I found myself back in South India. Not as a tourist, nor as a chef chasing the next big idea, but as someone reconnecting with my past and the food of my childhood. Hoppers has always carried the flavours and memories of Sri Lanka and South India in its bones, but with our new restaurant in Shoreditch (London) that will open its doors on February 4, I felt an instinctive pull to go deeper, to peel back the layers and rediscover the food, people, and places that first sparked the journey a decade ago. 

Karan Gokani
| Photo Credit:
Ola O Smith

I travelled with two people who are at the heart of how we cook at Hoppers, and just as hungry as I was to understand these regions properly. Renjith Sarathchandran, our executive chef from Ernakulam, Kerala, is a sponge for anything new. Kavinda Dasun, our Sri Lankan development chef from Colombo, brings a curiosity that’s genuinely infectious. In Chennai, we were joined by Sandesh Reddy (who runs Oji Ramen in Chennai, and Katana in Bangalore, among other restaurants), and he became our host, guide, translator and eating companion on non-stop expeditions that really should have come with medical disclaimers. 

(From left) Renjith Sarathchandran, Karan Gokani, Sandesh Reddy, and Kavinda Dasun
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

From the start, we knew this wasn’t going to be a checklist trip, or one built for social media. No PR itinerary, no forced “must sees”. We were hunting the real stuff: tiffin rooms packed with locals, mess halls, restaurants that do one dish and do it perfectly, tea shops where gossip travels faster than steam, and home cooks passing down recipes like heirlooms.

Food at Hoppers Shoreditch
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

It began, as it should, in Chennai. Humid, hectic, and alive with the perfume of ghee, traffic, and jasmine flowers. Within hours of landing, we were seated at Ayya Mess, presented with a spread that would have made my Gujarati vegetarian ancestors panic, but had the cook in me grinning like a kid. Offal gravies, brain masala, fish fry, coconut rich curries, all served with the kind of confidence that comes from cooking food you’ve been perfecting for years. South India doesn’t do hospitality with fanfare. It simply appears, generous and steaming, right in front of you. 

We scoured the city for the “best rose milk in town,” but ended up instead at Mylapore Ganapathy’s, a tiny shop where we tasted buffalo ghee so nutty and aromatic it felt like discovering beurre noisette with a Tamil accent.

A server at Murugan Idli Shop
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The next morning began, as every good Chennai morning should, with idli and filter coffee. At Murugan Idli Shop, we ate pillowy idlis drenched in ghee and podi, and an onion uttapam so soft it almost melted as I lifted it. Of course, research trips have their disappointments too. The much talked about biryani at the birthplace of Chicken 65, was… educational, let’s say. Next door, however, at Thalapakatti, we discovered Dindigul biryani that was fragrant, punchy, and revelatory. A big departure from the fragrant basmati versions, this had its own space and impact, and we instantly knew we had to carve out a place on our new menu for a version of this dish. 

The group with staff members of The Bangala
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Then came Chettinad. The region that gently but powerfully shaped the design and soul of our Shoreditch restaurant. Walking through ancestral Chettiyar homes felt like moving through living museums of Tamil history — carved pillars, patterned tiles, courtyards that tell a million stories, artefacts passed down through generations. We stayed at The Bangala, less a plush hotel and more an extension of the Meyyappan family home. After years of reading about her and being inspired by her stories and food, we finally met the legendary matriarch Meenakshi Meyyappan. Aachi, as she is lovingly known, is 92 years old, razor sharp, and still the undisputed queen of Chettinad cuisine. 

The group dining at The Bangala
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

There is no ego in her kitchen. Only discipline, generosity, and a deep respect for heritage. Every curry earns its place at the table. Every menu is precise, planned and written to Aachi’s exacting standards. Standing there, stirring a pot of pepper rich gravy under her watchful eye, we were reminded that food is never just flavour. It is anthropology, memory, time and place, and most vitally, emotion. 

A server at Dindigul Thalapakkati
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Next, we were guided through Madurai by Chef Ram Prakash, an authority on the region. The street food there has a swagger and you see instantly why it’s often called the food capital of Tamil Nadu. You taste the passion in a deeply rich kari dosa, cooked slowly on the tawa until the edges crisp while the centre stays soft. You taste it in the quiet fire of a peppery broth ladled from a steel pot. You feel it in the way even something as humble as a parotta seems engineered for maximum pleasure, defying both gravity and physics. Threadlike nool parotta, fluffy bun parotta, deep fried omelettes, crab curry that manages to be both comforting and thrilling. It’s excessive and messy, but carried out by an unassuming precision. 

And then there’s jigarthanda, that iconic cold, creamy drink dessert hybrid that somehow feels both soothing and wildly indulgent. The best one we had tasted like nostalgia you didn’t know you owned. New, yet distinctly familiar. Milk, almond gum, ice cream, syrup, and a calm sweetness that cut straight through the city’s intensity.

Parotta in Madurai
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

We only had 24 hours here on this trip, but put them to full use until our stomachs gave up. Lunch was at Eswari Mess, a local favourite on the outskirts of Madurai, while dinner was just what I had imagined — parottas of every shape and form at Madurai Bunparotta Kadai. The dishes that stayed with me most were the crab curry and omelette at lunch, and that threadlike nool parotta at dinner. Those flavours now have a home in Shoreditch, with a new hybrid dish on our menu that brings all three elements together. 

Dosas at Bengaluru Cafe

Bengaluru surprised me in a completely different way. It’s a city where you can start your day with a darshini breakfast and end it in a bar that could comfortably sit in London or New York, except someone is still ordering filter coffee and paan at midnight. 

We started the day with a full carb laden breakfast at the original MTR. But this wasn’t just a quick stop for idli and coffee. We were guided by Pratima Chabbi, who has written a book on MTR, knows the inner workings of this breakfast mecca, and seems to be on first name terms with everyone who matters there, including the owners. We had access to every corner, and the cleanliness and efficiency of the kitchen genuinely blew us away.

A server at MTR Bengaluru
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Many rava idlis, vadas, upmas and filter coffees later, we headed to Bengaluru Café for a second breakfast, because this is Bengaluru and it would be rude not to. Here, the dosas are crisp and aggressively hot, smelling of toasted butter and fermented batter, served with chutneys that don’t apologise for their heat. Like the rest of India, we became obsessed with benne dosa. All that richness, all that crunch. It instantly made sense why Bengaluru treats it with such reverence. It’s comfort food at its absolute peak. Closely followed by a Death by Chocolate at Corner House, of course.

Ice creams at Corner House
| Photo Credit:
SACHIN MADHU

What struck me most, across states and cities, was how profoundly regional South Indian food remains. Its not just South Indian food but hundreds of micro traditions, dialects, preferences, ingredients and rituals co-existing under the same sky. You cannot talk about curry here. You must talk about this curry, made this way, in this home, with this spice balance, because anything else would be dishonest. 

Hoppers at Shoreditch

That spirit of specificity and place is what we wanted to bring back with us. Not replicas or Instagram plates, but respectful interpretations grounded in real kitchens, real homes, and stories we’d tasted and lived. That’s why making the trip in person, and reconnecting with these memories, was so crucial. Our new menu draws from five culinary heartlands: Chettinad, Madurai, Bengaluru, Kochi and Chennai. It isn’t a greatest hits list. It’s an invitation to go deeper, and to discover the South beyond what most of us think we already know. 

While shaping our menu, the journey also reshaped us. Renjith rediscovered flavours from his childhood with the clarity that only distance brings. Kavinda found echoes of Sri Lanka in unexpected places, proof of how deeply intertwined the food cultures of the Indian Ocean truly are.

Dosas at Bengaluru Cafe
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

And I, somewhere between a plate of goat trotter curry and a soft serve filter coffee ice cream, realised how much of my own story holds memories of the south. 

The writer is an author, chef, and restaurateur who runs Hoppers, a Sri Lankan and South Indian restaurant in London’s Soho with JKS Restaurants

In 2026, India’s residential real estate market will change in a big way. This change will be less about short-term trends and more about long-term public investment in infrastructure. It is still a guess that central capital spending will exceed ₹12 lakh crore in Budget 2026, but the orientation of policy is apparent. The government’s capital expenditure rose from ₹11.11 lakh crore in FY25 to ₹11.21lakh crore in FY26. That shows that infrastructure remains the chief engine of economic growth.

The best and brightest among the economists of the country, from Bank of Baroda to ICRA, currently believe that the FY27 budget could be as high as ₹12 lakh–₹12.5 lakh crore, growing at 7%–10% a year. It’s not just that infrastructure is making cities more functional at this moment, though it certainly is doing that. This is important for housing. Improved access is reducing the commute at both ends of the projects, freeing up parcels of land on the edges and changing buyers’ behaviour. Increasingly, homebuyers select locations by their proximity to transit corridors, job clusters and social infrastructure rather than old addresses. This is an indication that there are shifting dynamics in residential demand across India’s cities.

This change is important because it changes how buyers see risk. People who buy things are no longer paying for promises; they are paying for infrastructure that is already working or almost working. Time spent commuting is now a form of money. When travel time goes below a certain point, places that used to feel peripheral stop feeling that way. They become real options for housing.

Travel time compression

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region has the most obvious signs of infrastructure-led demand reshaping. The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the Coastal Road, the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR), and the Panvel–Karjat suburban rail corridor are all making the city smaller.

According to ANAROCK Research and Magicbricks transaction data, micro-markets along these corridors have seen prices go up by 15% to 30% between 2022 and 2025. The MTHL has cut the time it takes to get from South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai to less than 25 minutes. This has caused demand to shift to Panvel, Ulwe, and Kharghar.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation plans to open the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road in phases starting in 2026. It will cut travel time between east and west from 90 minutes to less than 30 minutes. Early transaction data shows that Mulund and Goregaon are selling homes in the ₹80 lakh to ₹1.5 crore range faster. This is typical behaviour for end users: families with jobs willing to give up centrality for connectivity.

The Panvel–Karjat rail corridor, which is part of MUTP-III and is being built by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation, is also making Navi Mumbai’s outer edge livable instead of just speculative.

Developers say there are more end-users than investors. Historically, rental demand has come first, followed by ownership demand. This “rent-to-own pipeline” is a second-order effect that doesn’t show up in headline data very often.

Airports and expressways

According to updates from YEIDA and the Airports Authority of India, the Noida International Airport at Jewar will start operating in stages in early 2026. This is changing the Yamuna Expressway belt. According to YEIDA data, land prices in the area have gone up almost six times in the last five years. The buyer profile is what changes now.

This is no longer a pure land-banking play. Logistics parks, hospitality zones, IT campuses, and cargo hubs are under development. ANAROCK Research says the demand for mid-range housing in the ₹50 lakh–₹90 lakh range is growing in the Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway sectors. This demand is based on jobs, not speculation.

The Ganga Expressway is a 594-km road that will connect Meerut and Prayagraj. It is expected to start running in phases in 2026. According to data from the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority, there are plans for several industrial nodes along the corridor. This will link manufacturing clusters in Eastern Uttar Pradesh directly to NCR, which will increase demand for housing near interchanges and logistics hubs.

The Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS corridor is another big change in the way things are built. ANAROCK’s data on affordability shows that EMI-to-income ratios in Ghaziabad have already dropped below 30%. This means that young professionals who can’t afford to live in Delhi can now buy homes there.

Peripheral corridors

The story of Bengaluru’s growth is moving outward. Core IT corridors like ORR and Whitefield are full. Phase 2A, 2B, and the Airport line are all part of the next wave of metro expansions. BMRCL and JLL data show that homes within a kilometre of new metro stations cost 15% to 25% more than homes that are farther away.

Whitefield is a perfect example. Prices for homes went up almost 20% over the course of two years after the Purple Line extension, and rental yields went up a lot. As airport connections get better, North Bengaluru around Hebbal and Devanahalli is showing similar behaviour. The buyer here is an end-user, not an investor. These families with two incomes are choosing bigger homes in exchange for a predictable commute.

This change is making developers rethink how much they can offer. Compact premium housing in the ₹80 lakh to ₹1.2 crore range is the fastest-moving inventory right now, not ultra-luxury. According to Knight Frank data, this group saw the biggest increase in absorption in Bengaluru in 2025.

Growth corridors and ring roads

The 340-km-long Regional Ring Road in Hyderabad is opening up completely new paths. According to the Telangana government and Knight Frank’s Hyderabad Residential Update, land prices in Shadnagar, Bhuvanagiri, and Adibatla have gone up by 20%–35% in the last two years.

But the real effect is still to come. There are plans for data centres, logistics parks, and industrial clusters along these corridors. This will create jobs in places other than the usual IT centres like Gachibowli and Kokapet. There will be a demand for housing. What we see today is just positioning.

Hyderabad is also an interesting example of how regulations can affect things. In 2025, new rules for how to value stamp duty caused a rush of registrations. In the fourth quarter of 2025, transactions went up by 37%. This shows that the timing of policies is just as important as the infrastructure itself.

Knight Frank’s PE Trends Report says that private equity investments in Indian real estate reached $6.7 billion in 2025, a 59% increase from the previous year. About 76% of this money came from investors from other countries. Office is still the biggest beneficiary, but residential has become the second biggest, with a share of 17% to 21%.

This money is not looking for a quick buck. It is giving money to projects that are easy to see in terms of infrastructure. Investors like structured debt, credit-linked instruments, and projects from developers who are already listed. This lowers the risk to the whole system and makes supply more disciplined.

Another change in structure is REITs. According to SEBI and industry filings, India now has more than 370 million sq.ft. of Grade-A office space that can be listed on the REIT. Over time, this model will grow to include retail, warehousing, and eventually rental housing, just like it does in other countries where residential property is a major institutional asset class.

Even though there is a lot of demand for premium products, the market’s blind spot is affordability. According to ANAROCK, homes that cost less than ₹50 lakh made up 54% of sales in 2018. That share had dropped to 21% by 2025. There is still demand, but supply has become unviable.

CBRE Construction Cost Trends says land costs, compliance costs, and construction inflation of 6%–10% per year have made affordable housing financially unattractive in cities. Policy incentives just don’t work if the ₹45 lakh limit isn’t changed. Raising it to ₹75 lakh–₹90 lakh would make the policy more realistic and open up real demand.

You can see what happens when you don’t do anything. People in the middle class are being pushed to the edges of cities. This means that public transportation infrastructure is very important. Metro, RRTS, and suburban rail are no longer just nice things to have; they are now necessary for social stability.

Sustainability is now a part of how capital is allocated. According to JLL, more than 80% of new commercial space is green-certified. Residential is going in the same direction. More and more, buyers care about how energy efficient a home is, how ready it is for electric vehicles, and how well it manages water.

Developers who add ESG features to their projects get lower financing costs and more demand. This isn’t about ideology; it’s about money. Green-certified projects cost 5%–10% more and rent out faster.

Five-year plan

Three structural forces will affect the demand for housing over the next five years. First, infrastructure will keep moving demand away from the centre. Micro-markets that are near transit hubs will do better than the average for the city. Second, institutional capital will make development more professional. Third, buyers will continue to act based on what the end user wants, not on what they think will happen.

Knight Frank’s forecast says prices will probably only rise by 4% to 8% a year. It helps with long-term absorption. It won’t be luxury buyers who drive volume growth; it will be mid-range buyers.

The message for people buying homes is clear. Stop buying pin codes. Start buying connectivity. A home near a future metro station or working expressway will be better than a premium address with poor transportation.

For developers, the opportunity lies in compact premium housing. The ₹80 lakh to ₹1.2 crore range is not getting enough attention and will drive the next cycle. Micro-markets that are linked to infrastructure offer the best risk-adjusted returns for investors.

Budget 2026 is a chance for policymakers to fix structural problems. Changes to the definitions of affordable housing, the GST system, and the process for getting approvals will have a much bigger effect than short-term sops.

The writer is director of Eros Group.

Sunil Kumar KR, the librarian of the Choornikara Panchayat Library, calls 50 women, all members of 250 plus Kudumbashree units of the Panchayat, which has 21 wards, the force behind the success of its Aksharadeepam project.

As part of the project, inaugurated in 2023, books from the library are doorstep-delivered to homes in the Panchayat to promote reading among women and children. The books were purchased by ₹1.5 lakh sanctioned by the panchayat for the project. Later on, as word spread, books have also come in via donations. 

Also Read |Building a library of all the books in the world

The project, which has been part of research projects globally, has garnered attention, is powered by these women whose ages range from 23 to 68. “They are my warriors!” says Sunil, “I just need to ask them to do something and it will be done.” Five of the women volunteers — Athikka Beevi KK, Sherbila MS, Sreeja Mani, Sheela Suresh, and Jalaja Sugunan — smile proudly as they nod enthusiastically in agreement. 

“Sunil sir needs our support to sustain this project and we are determined to ensure its longevity,” they chorus. This is voluntary work, they gain nothing from it except “the joy and satisfaction of getting these books to people who want to read but cannot,” says Jalaja Suseelan, one of the older volunteers. “Often there is so much else also happening in our lives, but we ensure that we make time for this work. We have to,” she adds. 

Although it is an ‘urban’ area, it looks more like a village aspiring to be a small town. The library is located in the same building as the anganwadi, the reading room is on the ground floor while the library is on the first floor. Outside the hall adjacent to the library, on a wall with Aksharadeepam written on it are hung maroon cloth bags. They are numbered, there are around 40 of these. “These were the first bags, which could fit 10 books, the number that we distributed initially. We have now resorted to larger bags for our quota of 17 books,” says Sheela Suresh. A dedicated WhatsApp group keeps the Aksharadeepam team in the loop about activities. Besides this, the Library organises enrichment activities for these volunteers as encouragement apart from commemorative mementos. 

Armed with their white bags, which is then packed in a smart jute tote, filled with books which include fiction and non-fiction, for women and children, and the odd-book that would help Public Service Commission (PSC) examination aspirants these volunteers go about distributing these to 1000 homes in the panchayat.  

“This is our Sunday activity, come rain or shine we are here to return and collect fresh books to distribute,” says Athikka Beevi, one of the volunteers gathered there. On the first Sunday of the month the bags are exchanged, as each bag has a different combination of books, all Malayalam for now. 

There are 55 sets of books or ‘kits’ as they are colloquially referred to. The choice of books is driven by practical considerations, the main one being that they cannot be thick, “this can be intimidating for those who have to “make” time to read. There is no point lending inaccessible books when the whole point is to get people to read,” says Sunil. 

Sreeja adds, “The books would just sit in the homes, possibly extending the date of return. Fat books will not be read, slim ones have a better chance of being read.” Mostly fiction, the works of Malayalam authors such as Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, OV Vijayan, Anand, Benyamin, KR Meera, Santosh Echikanam and others make up the ‘kits’. “There have been enquiries from our younger readers for English books. We plan to include those in the near future, we want people to read and if books in English will keep it going, so be it,” adds Sunil. This library model has been part of international journals and publications such as the        

Also Read |Inside India’s rural reading rooms | Is there a lesson for the public library system in these community libraries? 

What started out as a project for 100-odd houses has now grown to 1000 houses: 4000-odd people. Starting out, Sunil says, his expectations were modest, if it worked, well and good. He credits the volunteers, themselves avid readers, for the success of the project and for how far the Aksharadeepam project has come. The plan, initially, targeted Kudumbashree members, however as word spread interest grew. Others who were not part of Kudumbashree evinced an interest leading it to spread among locals.

“We also like reading, so we understand the value of books and having them brought to us. Reading is not simple for women — we have house work, take care of the home and children, which barely leaves us with any time to read, let alone go to a library,” says Sreeja. 

The volunteers were chosen after four levels of screening, from the unit level of Kudumbashree to panchayat officials. They were also chosen for their interest in reading, “this is a voluntary activity, it cannot be sustained if someone were to do it for the money. The volunteers have to be self-motivated also for this to work,” Sunil says. 

“We understand the value of this activity. We have, each of us, wanted to read but did not have access to them or a library. We did not have a facility such as this, going to a library was out of the question,” adds Jalaja. For this reason, they say, they are committed to the project to see it through. 

For the volunteers this work is validation. The library recently organised an event to celebrate reaching books to the 700 houses. “The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, AN Shamseer sir, was the chief guest. We were given mementos by him for this work…It felt so good to be acknowledged, to have one’s work appreciated. This would not have happened if we did not do this work,” say Sreeja and Sherbila. 

Published – January 30, 2026 03:39 pm IST

Sunil Kumar KR, the librarian of the Choornikara Panchayat Library, calls 50 women, all members of 250 plus Kudumbashree units of the Panchayat, which has 21 wards, the force behind the success of its Aksharadeepam project. As part of the project, inaugurated in 2023, books from the library are doorstep-delivered to homes in the Panchayat to promote reading among women and children. The books were purchased by ₹1.5 lakh sanctioned by the panchayat for the project. Later on, as word spread, books have also come in via donations. 

The project, which has been part of research projects globally, has garnered attention, is powered by these women whose ages range from 23 to 68. “They are my warriors!” says Sunil, “I just need to ask them to do something and it will be done.” Five of the women volunteers — Athikka Beevi KK, Sherbila MS, Sreeja Mani, Sheela Suresh, and Jalaja Sugunan — smile proudly as they nod enthusiastically in agreement. 

“Sunil sir needs our support to sustain this project and we are determined to ensure its longevity,” they chorus. This is voluntary work, they gain nothing from it except “the joy and satisfaction of getting these books to people who want to read but cannot,” says Jalaja Suseelan, one of the older volunteers. “Often there is so much else also happening in our lives, but we ensure that we make time for this work. We have to,” she adds. 

Although it is an ‘urban’ area, it looks more like a village aspiring to be a small town. The library is located in the same building as the anganwadi, the reading room is on the ground floor while the library is on the first floor. Outside the hall adjacent to the library, on a wall with Aksharadeepam written on it are hung maroon cloth bags. They are numbered, there are around 40 of these. “These were the first bags, which could fit 10 books, the number that we distributed initially. We have now resorted to larger bags for our quota of 17 books,” says Sheela Suresh. A dedicated WhatsApp group keeps the Aksharadeepam team in the loop about activities. Besides this, the Library organises enrichment activities for these volunteers as encouragement apart from commemorative mementos. 

The volunteers with Sunil Kumar KR, the librarian
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Armed with their white bags, which is then packed in a smart jute tote, filled with books which include fiction and non-fiction, for women and children, and the odd-book that would help Public Service Commission (PSC) examination aspirants these volunteers go about distributing these to 1000 homes in the panchayat.  

“This is our Sunday activity, come rain or shine we are here to return and collect fresh books to distribute,” says Athikka Beevi, one of the volunteers gathered there. On the first Sunday of the month the bags are exchanged, as each bag has a different combination of books, all Malayalam for now. 

There are 55 sets of books or ‘kits’ as they are colloquially referred to. The choice of books is driven by practical considerations, the main one being that they cannot be thick, “this can be intimidating for those who have to “make” time to read. There is no point lending inaccessible books when the whole point is to get people to read,” says Sunil. 

Sreeja adds, “The books would just sit in the homes, possibly extending the date of return. Fat books will not be read, slim ones have a better chance of being read.” Mostly fiction, the works of Malayalam authors such as Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, OV Vijayan, Anand, Benyamin, KR Meera, Santosh Echikanam and others make up the ‘kits’. “There have been enquiries from our younger readers for English books. We plan to include those in the near future, we want people to read and if books in English will keep it going, so be it,” adds Sunil. This library model has been part of international journals and publications such as the        

What started out as a project for 100-odd houses has now grown to 1000 houses: 4000-odd people. Starting out, Sunil says, his expectations were modest, if it worked, well and good. He credits the volunteers, themselves avid readers, for the success of the project and for how far the Aksharadeepam project has come. The plan, initially, targeted Kudumbashree members, however as word spread interest grew. Others who were not part of Kudumbashree evinced an interest leading it to spread among locals.

“We also like reading, so we understand the value of books and having them brought to us. Reading is not simple for women — we have house work, take care of the home and children, which barely leaves us with any time to read, let alone go to a library,” says Sreeja. 

The volunteers were chosen after four levels of screening, from the unit level of Kudumbashree to panchayat officials. They were also chosen for their interest in reading, “this is a voluntary activity, it cannot be sustained if someone were to do it for the money. The volunteers have to be self-motivated also for this to work,” Sunil says. 

“We understand the value of this activity. We have, each of us, wanted to read but did not have access to them or a library. We did not have a facility such as this, going to a library was out of the question,” adds Jalaja. For this reason, they say, they are committed to the project to see it through. 

For the volunteers this work is validation. The library recently organised an event to celebrate reaching books to the 700 houses. “The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, AN Shamseer sir, was the chief guest. We were given mementos by him for this work…It felt so good to be acknowledged, to have one’s work appreciated. This would not have happened if we did not do this work,” say Sreeja and Sherbila. 

Published – January 30, 2026 03:39 pm IST