On weekends, Bengaluru's Church Street offers a unique atmosphere with buskers performing soulful music, talented artists, photographers, cartoonists, and budding entrepreneurs showcasing innovative food and quirky artwork. Social media creators capture the street's ambiance, while face readers and fortune tellers add a mystical touch. Kulsum, a college student selling artisanal candles, describes Church Street as a place reflecting Bengaluru's soul and creativity. Uttamveer, a vendor with custom tote bags, agrees that the street is the heart of the city, now bustling with visitors due to the IT boom but also facing intense competition. Arul, a psychology student practicing face reading on Church Street, offers insights for free, relying on intuition rather than astrology. Authors, like Moyeen VN and Mahavir (SJ Johnson), have found success on Church Street, with Moyeen selling over 7,000 copies of his self-published book.The man offers his book for any amount the reader wishes to pay, with the simple intention of sharing his work. He follows up with readers a week later to gather feedback.
Situated at the crossroads of Brigade Road and Church Street is Fakhruddin, a skilled player of the Indian coconut violin, known as pitil in Kannada. He is a familiar presence to those who have frequented the area over the years. Fakhruddin can play songs in various languages upon request, such as Kannada, English, or Telugu. He started performing his melodies on Church Street three decades ago. Despite being blind in one eye now, he finds joy in having people stop and listen to his music.
Church Street is a hub of musical talents, ranging from seasoned professionals like Raghu Dixit to emerging musicians and regular street performers like Fakhruddin, who plays the pitil every weekend.
Numerous young entrepreneurs on Church Street are juggling their dreams of starting a business with the responsibilities of adulthood. One vendor shares that selling items on the street is their side hustle that they have not revealed to their parents yet. They hope for their business to succeed so they can openly discuss it with their family. Another entrepreneur, Shravani, who specializes in resin art, recounts how starting a stall on Church Street has been a rewarding experience in showcasing her work to an interested audience.
Divya, who crafts handmade jewelry, describes how she and her family turned their business idea into a reality with the support of her design graduate sister and creative mother. Despite the challenges of setting up on Church Street in the early hours of the morning, they find satisfaction in their hard work paying off.
Meanwhile, Dhanush, a college student with a Polaroid camera, utilizes his passion for photography on Church Street as he captures moments for passersby.Camera operator Dhanush provides on-the-spot photo keepsakes for customers at Rs 150 each. He can take up to 50 photos in one evening and is always ready to accommodate requests, like when a group of women from Kerala at a college reunion in Bengaluru ask for a picture. Dhanush quickly organizes the group, snaps a memorable shot, and hands over the developing photo, much to the delight of the women who then request additional copies. Dhanush enjoys helping people create memories and values his role in capturing special moments for his customers.
