Mumbai

Entertainment Centers

Everyone is talking about Family Entertainment Centres; it is the new buzzword around town. Over the past two years they have caught on in a big way. Its no longer hip to go pubbing, the happening places now, are the local pool joints and the bowling centres. At a time when the entire economy is in a slump this is one industry that is doing well for itself. All it takes is two or three bowling lanes, a couple of pool tables, some video games, a cafeteria and voila you have a Family Entertainment Centre. A place where there is something for everyone. We drove around the town sampling some of the city's centres and here is what we came up with.

[ Buddy's | Bowling Company | Funland | Hiranandani Entertainment Complex | Interscape World | Superdrome | Paragliding ]

Buddy's
Location: Nana Chowk.
Area: Approximately 9000 sq feet.
Attraction: Cosmic Bowling

The first thing that hits you about the place is the bright neon decot and the pulsating music, a stark contrast from the noise and pollution you leave behind outside, Buddy's was the first in the series of the many FEC's springing up across the city. "The idea behind Buddy's was to develop a place where the entire family could come in and have a great time", says Mr. P.P.Mishra of Buddy's . The place is quite popular among teenagers who bunk their classes to try their hand at bowling or pool as well as the office goers who drop in to simply chill out. Shafi who is a regular between office hours says, "The place is not very crowded during the weekdays so you don't have to wait endlessly for your turn. In fact when there is a long waiting the staff usually lets you know in advance". Entry into the place is at a cover charge of Rs. 50. On weekdays a game of bowling costs Rs.100. They offer two schemes one in which every 6th bowling game is free after the initial five and another where with every game played you get a snack or drink on the house. The second scheme however is not calid over the weekends. The pool game rates vary from Rs. 200 per hour or Rs. 50 per frame over weekends. While at Buddy's try out their grilled cheese sandwiches. The burger and fries come highly recommended bu the cafeteria boy Harish. The staff is always around to lend a helping hand and they also offer professional trainers to guide the people interested in the game.

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Bowling Company
Location: Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel.
Area: Approximately 30,000 sq feet.
Attraction: Sports Bar.

A flight of steel stairs greets you in the silent mill compound leading you into the air-conditioned and bright interiors. With something in store from six-year-olds to sixty-year-olds it is only natural that the place is buzzing with activity. With 20 lanes to cater to the "bowling" crowd, A.D. Sing's Bowling Company is Mumbai's largest bowling centre. "When I thought of opening this place I wanted it to be different. The only way to do that was to have something that was the biggest and the best", says A.D. Singh of CO's, as the place is popularly called. The Sports Bar also amongst the biggest in the city, is extremely popular with the regulars.The specialities at the bar include Flavoured Margaritas and a drink which comes highly recommended by the barman, Christopher, is the 'Cue', a combination of white rum and liquor. Flanked by a giant screen showing the latest on Star Sports, it makes interesting watching with a drink in one hand. If you like some action there is the 'Silly Point' for a shot at the basketball hoop or a game of pool. The place also has some exotic cuisine. Be sure to try their 'Panta Karswe', burmese curried chicken with rice and noodles and for those not interested in sampling there is the regular cafeteria serving pizzas, burgers and fries. It doesn't just stop there the people at Co's are looking at expanding with a Coffee and deserts cafe, a seperate video arcade and even a kids centre. Rohan, a regular here says, "What I like about the place is the fact that you don't have to wait endlessly for your turn at bowling or pool". One frame of pool at CO's costs Rs.50 to Rs.100 on weekdays and from Rs.75 to Rs.125 on weekends.

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Funland
Location: Cinemax Complex, Goregaon.
Area: 4,500 sq feet.
Attractions: The Thrillrider

The next time you drop into Cinemax it's not going to be only for a movie. Funland the entertainment centre that opened a fortnight ago is creating waves of sorts. Inaugurated by Mrs. Smita Thackeray this place has become a regular hangout for the people. The biggest draw of course is The Thrillrider, a virtual reality simulated game experience which is the first to be launched in this city. The other regular features are the pool and snooker tables, the air hockey games, the cyber cafe and the video games. Entry into the place is Rs.50 after 4.00 pm. The costs for snooker games are Rs.100 per frame subject to changes over the weekends. The Thrillrider is priced at Rs.50 per ride. The place also has a small cafeteria offering a variety of deserts.

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Hiranandani Entertainment Complex
Location: Powai, Hiranandani Housing Complex.
Area: Over 100,000 sq feet including all the centres.
Attraction: Go Karting, Rock Climbing, Mini Golf.

This is the city's biggest entertainment centre housing a variety of games and adventure sports. The plush exteriors of the shopping arcade combined with the gizmo sounds from the Hakone Entertainment Centre give you the feel of being out of the country. The 3500 sq feet Hakone Entertainment Centre houses a number of video games extremely popular with the school and college children who drop in during the weekends or late evenings. The rates for the games vary from Rs.10 to 20 and can be purchased on a coupon basis. The next in line is the Go Karting centre. Covering about 80,000 sq feet, when this centre opened about a year ago it brought into the city the concept of formula racing giving the Mumbaikars another exciting adventure sport. The place also houses a cafeteria and pool tables. Costs for Go Karting are based on the number of laps you take and are anywhere between Rs.100 to 240 on week days and slightly more over the weekends. The sad part is that the Go Karting is usually off during the monsoon season. For those who like to dabble with golf they also have a Mini Golf Course. The Mini Golf Course encompasses an area of almost 10,000 sq feet. There is Rock Climbing which has recently started. An artificial wall has been set up which gives a simulated experience. With no jagged edges and artificial crevices the experience is thrilling yet absolutely safe. There are various group schemes varying from Rs.30 to Rs.50 during weekdays as well as weekends. Mr. Mark Gandhi who conceptualised and now manages the place says, "I have been looking after this place since it's inception. We were looking at building a place that would give people an outlet from their mundane routine. We are now considering setting up a para bowling and redemption games center as well.

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Interscape World
Location: Shivaji Park
Area: 3,200 sq feet on two levels.
Attraction: Cybercafe.

It's seemingly sober exteriors don't quite prepare you for the contrast inside. On one hand you have people silently enjoying themselves in the cyberworld while on the lower level college students are having a great time playing pool. Interestingly most of the people coming here do not believe in mixing the facilities available so those here to surf do not play and vice versa. This place has become popular among the localites since there is no local competition and the place is packed throughout the evenings. The costs for the cybercafe are Rs.40 for 30 mins and prepaid passes for one or two persons as well as special discounts for students are also available.The pool charges are Rs.40 per frame.

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Superdrome
Location: Film Centre, Haji Ali
Area: 8000 sq feet
Attraction: Cantorian, The Oriental Restaurant.

This place is just over a fortnight old and has already become very popular with the college goers. Built on two levels with a four story high ceiling and a metallic silver blue decor the place has a very futuristic look. With state of art equipment this place is amongst the first in Mumbai to have all of it's 8 A.M.F pool tables and four bowling lanes imported. Another thing that is new here is the cosmic bowling where the pins are not string attached. Managing director Waseem Khan says, "I did a lot of spade work before entering this field and found this city has room for at least another 200 centres. Only then will the stagnation set in, till then there is enough room for everyone". Superdrome is probably the only place in the city to offer exotic oriental cuisine at Cantorian, the restaurant, managed by Mrs. Kanta Doshi. Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Korean it's all there and for those who do not enjoy such food there is the regular menu. The management is looking at starting a cybercafe and virtual reality games centre in the near future.

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Paragliding in Mumbai
It's within easy reach of the city and yet far enough to be away from the maddening crowds and the soil and the pollution. Located approximately 60 kms away from the city's centre lies the Western Paragliding Association or the WPA, offering you a chance to fly free with the birds.

The WPA is a self-regulatory body of members aiming to establish and to promote paragliding in a safe and credible manner. The association was formed so that the sport of paragliding would survive in India. Over the years various forms of light aviation like hang gliding and microlighting have come to this country and then disappeared into oblivion for lack of organisation. The association hopes to keep this sport alive and kicking.

World famous equipment is now available in Mumbai and at unbeatable prices for this fast developing market. Elementary courses only cost $250 thus making it economical to come into this country, learn paragliding, buy yourself a canopy and take in a lot of site-seeing as well.

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