On March 2, 2024, while Ed Sheeran was performing ‘The Shape Of You’ at Mahalaxmi Race Course, many attendees struggled with the shape of Mumbai traffic. Some even missed out on the first half of the act. Similarly, in September 2023, Trevor Noah cancelled his shows in Bengaluru after experiencing trouble with the venue's acoustics. India currently stands in a rather contradictory space culturally. Despite having access to first-world talent for various kind of concerts, events, and races, the execution often leaves a third-world aftertaste.
“India is certainly making progress with music festivals, attracting some fantastic artistes. However, there's still quite a gap in production quality when compared to concerts in other countries. It's not solely about our production standards; space constraints also play a role,” emphasised Sakshi Rawte, a media professional from Mumbai who attended Coldplay concerts in both Mumbai and Thailand. “For example, I also watched Coldplay when they performed in Mumbai years ago, the Global Citizen one, but that Coldplay and this Coldplay were poles apart in terms of the performance they gave, the lights, the production, everything.”
Rawte also highlighted the issue of crowd management, which appears to be a growing concern as more international artistees arrive at Indian shores. The recently held Lollapalooza festival, for instance, was well-managed but packed with audience with underwhelming etiquette. “Everyone was just elbowing each other. I just stood in the background,” added Rawte, recalling the Sting performance in January.
While the entertainment scene is changing slowly, Indians are also developing a taste for sportier pursuits, particularly Formula One. It's a bit of a chuckle though, considering F1's brief stint in India back in 2011. Sebastian Vettel zoomed to victory during Indian’s first of three Grand Prix before tax woes deemed it an "entertainment event," upsetting Formula One bigwigs. And while MotoGP revved up last year, some fans grumbled about venue accessibility mishaps.
Similarly, the inaugural Hyderabad Formula E Grand Prix was marred by mismanagement when civilian traffic entered the track just before the race started. Coupled with other administrative issues, the event sadly concluded after just one race in India.
Today, Indians flock to venues like Doha, Bahrain, to witness “lights out and away we go” in person. Recounting her experience at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Elixir Nahar from Mumbai remembers how well-managed the whole weekend was, from post-race entertainment to crowd management. “It was impeccably organised. From navigating traffic to reaching the venue and entering, everything was seamless. There wasn't a single hiccup; it was all smooth sailing. A positive experience worth revisiting.”
This temporary migration also sees an ease in the visa application process. Thailand, for instance, issues visas on arrival for Indians. When asked if she faced any logistical issues with her travel, Nahar recalls, “My friends and I just applied for it ourselves on their portal, and within half an hour, we had an E-visa link sent to our emails—super seamless. They thought it through. When we arrived at the airport, which, by the way, is gorgeous, there was an F1 arrival lane for immigration. One of my friends even applied at like 2 or 3 AM and got it in half an hour. That just shows how smooth the experience was. No hassles, no issues. Top-notch."
On a slightly different note, Indians today are also mastering the art of niche travelling. An investment banking professional from Mumbai, who chose to remain anonymous for the story, shares how she plans her vacations based on weed-friendly countries, “I like getting high, but the risk in India is not something I want to deal with. I’ve specifically traveled to Thailand in 2022 and Amsterdam last year just for this. Of course, the touristy bits just add to the experience.” Our anonymous plant enthusiast also mentions how travel like this enhances the overall experience, commenting, “I remember being stoned and walking around Amsterdam with people I met in the hostel. I’d love to have a similar experience in India, but safety remains my Achilles heel for now.”
Both Rawte and Nahar emphasize the experience of being there, “When you're standing there amidst the lights and that energy, it's a completely different experience. You're there, standing next to someone who doesn't speak your language, but both of you are enjoying the same artiste," says Rawte, describing the vibe in Thailand for the Coldplay concert.
In the same vein, Nahar recalls how “People from all over the world came there because it was the first race of the year. So, if you're a big racing fan, even if it's a trek for you, you would still make it there. I met some really interesting people; the crowd was great. And there are plenty of post-race activities to enjoy in the city. It's up and coming. Many say it's what Dubai was 10-15 years ago, but I think it has its own charm. The hospitality was great, and the people managing the whole experience at the lounge were excellent. Overall, it was a truly memorable experience.”
As far as cost is concerned, it isn’t exorbitantly more expensive than what most would spend on a week in Goa. As Rawte remembers, “I bought the concert tickets early and got great positions for Coldplay at around Rs 15,000. And since it was in Thailand, everything else was relatively cheaper. Return tickets were around 25k, and accommodation ranged between Rs 25k to 30k. A friend of mine only travelled for the concert, spending less than 50 grand on the whole trip.”
Overall, there are two sides to the coin. On one hand, travelling internationally for specific events and venues is becoming relatively affordable. On the other hand, the question remains - why can’t India offer a similar, if not elevated, experience compared to our Asian and Middle-Eastern peers? And what are we doing to change it?
