You hate it, you love it, you definitely can't ignore it u2014 Bollywood has taken over Bangalore and is here to stay. This themed pub in the heart of Bangalore is all ready to cash into the North-Indian culture-import and are doing a smashing job at it

You hate it, you love it, you definitely can't ignore it -- Bollywood has taken over Bangalore and is here to stay. This themed pub in the heart of Bangalore is all ready to cash into the North-Indian culture-import and are doing a smashing job at it

A few years ago, when Ashish Kothare noticed you couldn't go anywhere in the city without hearing the familiar tune of Dhoom Machaale or Khuda Jaane playing on someone's phone, he began to think it was high-time Bangalore's nightlife caught up with the trend. And so came into fruition Indi -- Bangalore's first Bollywood themed lounge bar -- which launched just last week in Garuda Mall.

Indi co-owners Kothare and S M Nandish are the brains behind popular nightspots Legends of Rock and Le Rock Cafe, which have served Bangalore's rock fans well in the five or so years they've been around. But as Kothare explains, Bangalore's need for techies is attracting more migration from the Hindi speaking belt, causing a shift in the tastes of the city's partygoers.

"Bangalore needed something on the Hindi theme, something new, innovative, that would cater to Bollywood fans, right in the midst of where all the action is," says Kothare.

Indi features a plasma and an LCD playing popular Hindi film-clips, and movie stars' pictures look down upon those seated at the back tables. Theme nights are hosted three times a week -- Sunday Ka Funda from 3pm to 7pm, followed by the Indi Masala Mix, while Wednesdays are all about Kiss Mat ladies nights, and then there's the Kingfisher Punjabi Tadka night on Thursdays.

Unfortunately there's no happy hour at Indi itself, but beers are cheap before 6pm at the Bull and Bush pub, Indi's sister bar next door.

It's not just the theme nights that take their names from popular blockbusters. The drinks too are very highly Bollywood-affected. From the Sholay Flaming Lamborghini to the 3 Idiots Mohito and much more, perusing through Indi's drinks list is like taking a trip down memory lane through the last 30 years of Hindi cinema.

(Wonder if we'll be seeing menus reprinted to add a My Name Is Khan Kamikaze in coming weeks?)

If you and your friends can bring yourself to stop quoting movie lines and actually order some drinks, we recommend going for one of Indi's signature cocktails. The Chalte Chalte is a vodka based concoction that features paan (yes, paan), while Sue's Jab We Met is a mixture of dark rum, sugarcane juice, rock-salt and Indian spices.

The story of how Sue's Jab We Met got its name perfectly illustrates the dynamic creative relationship Kothare has with Indi's manager Rajesh. Kathore took Rajesh on five years back and has since taught him everything he knows about the mixing business.u00a0

"I will dream and he will do," Kathore says of the way they work together to make their imaginative and original cocktails a reality. While drinking with an associate named Sue, a burst of inspiration led Kathore to try mixing dark rum with sugarcane juice, the popular roadside refreshment. So out went Rajesh to find the nearest vendor to bring some of the sweet liquid back for a bit of experimentation. The result is a refreshing cocktail with a real kick that has fast become an Indi fave.

The drinks list also boasts of 15 domestic and eight imported spirits including Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walker Black Label. There's not much in the way of beer and wine, but the mocktail special wittily labeled 'Safe Sex on the Beach' gave us a few laughs.

The bartenders here are an energetic bunch, often breaking into impromptu bottle juggling sessions to entertain customers. Just be aware that these antics might distract them from attending to the particulars of your order -- we kept being served ice in drinks in which we'd asked for none.

The food menu features a range of small veg and non-veg dishes all designed for nibbling while you drink. It's all inspired by street-vendor food and prepared, ironically, by an ex-five-star hotel chef.u00a0 As Kathore explains, "when we talk about cinema in America, what food comes to mind? Popcorn, right? But when it comes to cinema in India, we go and eat street food outside the theatre. Street food has always been connected to my going to the movies."

We tried the paneer tikka, the machli Amritsari and the Great Indian Feast - a platter with a bit of everything and a great choice if you're indecisive. The meat was tender and delectably seasoned and the veg dishes artfully presented. If you haven't gotten yourself to Mumbai recently and caught onto the Vodka Pani Puri craze, give it a try here. The combination of the spirit and the spices give it a real edge. At Rs 140-300 a serve, this is the most you will ever pay for street-vendor style food. But then again, when was the last time you got a cocktail and a posh table to sit at with your Rs 10 roadside Bhel Puri?

Indi is a relatively small bar, and this factor brings a few downsides. You're unlikely to be seated comfortably if you have a group of more than six or so, and if you prefer filmi tracks as background to conversation, you'll have trouble finding any quiet spots. Right in front of the bar seems to be the designated dancing space, so if it gets busy prepare to push your way through Bhangra dancing crowds to reach the bar.

Despite having to stumble out into the bright lights of the mall at closing time, Indi makes for an entertaining place to spend an evening. With the curfew we know all-too-well, doing the cinema and drinks in one evening can be a rushed affair in Bangalore. So next time you're having trouble making the decision, well, you know where to go.

At: Indi, Garuda Mall (4th floor)
Wallet factor: Rs 1,000 for a meal
for two with drinks
Call: 4112 6661
Timings: 7 - 11.30 pm on weekdays except sunday ka funda with dj sasha 3 -7 pm every sundays and indi bhel puri with dj savanth, 8 pm onwards