Disco.. Station..Disco...

It’s party time folks

Discos have to keep on innovating to see that their clientele does not get bored with the same old style everyday. From celebrities and revolving dance floors to fire-proof bars and hydraulic lifts, Pune’s night clubs are taking giant strides

Aditi Thirani

It’s a city that takes pride in its night life. Be it discos, lounges or pubs, it certainly is difficult if not impossible to find place in a night spot on Saturday nights. But the new breed of youngsters also need to find something different to keep them coming back to the same disc or lounge bar every weekend. Yes, discos too have to keep incorporating new concepts to keep the flow of customers steady.

In fact so vibrant is the night life that Mumbaikars keep the comparisons going. "I like the Pune crowd. It certainly understands music and is very demanding. At least one gets space to move around on the dance floor here. It’s impossible to shake a leg in Mumbai discs these days because they are so crowded on weekends," says Ricky, a resident of Mumbai who spends his weekends here in Pune. Andy who works in Convergys says people have different options to pick and choose from. "If clubs get boring, people have the option of going to private parties," he says. Hence discos have to make sure that people don’t get tired of the same old style everyday.

Lush off Bund Garden Road is known for attracting the young college crowd. "We need to give the crowds something new everyday so we play Retro on Wednesdays, Rock on Thursdays, House on Fridays, Hip-Hop on Saturdays and Bollywood on Sundays," says Tehseen Poonawala, of Lush. The night club has a huge female fan-following simply because entry for women is free. "We come here because we feel safe and the crowd is not boisterous," says Anita, a second year BA student.

The club arranges for performances by DJ’s who have made a name for themselves nationally. From Akeel to Suketu, Nikhil and Ivon, they have all come to perform at Lush. "We are constantly trying to improve our music and give our customers what they want," says Tehseen. To keep the party circuit ticking, the club plays host to big names in showbiz from time to time. Ekta Kapoor, Aryan Vaid, Miss India Sarah-Jane and Pakistani singer Atif are some of the celebrities who have come on invitation to the night club.

Area 51 in Baner is another hot spot that has Puneites rocking. The special attraction here is the lighting and architecture. This disc boasts programmable LED lights - the first of its kind in the city. "Lights mounted on the thrust can be adjusted according to the occasion and preference of its audience," says the discos manager, operations, Manish Chaubal. The 15,000 sq/ft pillarless structure is made up of a cantilevered dome. It’s only when you feel the strobe lights flashing and hit the floor - 1,000 sq/ft of partying space - that you know the difference. "Our music is imported from France," says Manish.

Get onto the enclosed hydraulic lift as it uplifts your spirits. The disc looks like a spaceship from the outside while inside it comprises four levels — the first makes up the revolving dance floor, the second comprises the lounge level followed by the revolving level. The last level is the VIP level which provides a birds-eye view of the club and also a place for private parties. "The distinctive thing about this place is that one does not realise it is moving; one revolution takes around 90 minutes," says Manish. "The VIP level can accommodate 30 to 35 people and also facilitates the grand entry for a special performance," says Manish.

The DJ console is equipped with the latest mixers and sound system. "We have DJ’s like Ivon and Nikhil Chinnapa playing regularly. Apache Indian too performed here recently," says Manish. The top bars of the disc are fire-proof providing amble space for fire shows. The club remains open only on Saturdays. Entry for women is free before 11 pm and stags are not allowed. "Tanushree Dutta, Amrita Thapar, Aryan Vaid and Ekta Kapoor can be spotted here from time to time," says Manish. "The whole place looks like a spaceship. We want to project an image that whoever come in is taken for a ride," says Manish. Today innovation is what is keeping the clubs and discos ticking. "It’s bugging to see the same old-fashioned ways of partying. There should always be something different and interesting," says Pranav, who loves to unwind at a disco on weekends.