May 2004 was the birth of a new cultural phenomenon. An all inclusive event for the eclectic South Asian community in which individuals could mix, mingle and party hard without being judged based on their wardrobe, association, relationship status etc.
Coined as “Besharam” by its creators, this social movement in Toronto’s club scene was determined to reclaim the word Besharam. Zavaré Tengra, Besharam’s hostess, says, “We we wanted people to think about what's really besharam in the world - poverty, wars, racism, discrimination and much more.”
Now, after six years of holding its events at The Fly Nightlclub in downtown Toronto, Besharam has moved to the Courthouse with Besharam Sutra! Party-goers can expect bigger and better themed – driven events in a more upscale environment.
MyBindi.com’s Ashna Singh has the inside scoop from Zavaré Tengra himself.
Q. How will moving to the Courthouse benefit the Besharam brand?
A. Well, it’s a landmark club at Adelaide and Church, right next to Terroni’s so it’s just walking distance from the Yonge & King subway station which makes it easily accessible. We like that it's in the heart of downtown but away from the hectic-ness of the club district. We believe change is always good, and we would like our patrons to experience an improved Besharam at a club that is run by the Liberty Entertainment Group - home to over a dozen premiere restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment venues, including the Liberty Grand, Rose Water, Ciao Supper Club, Spice Route, C Lounge, Ciao Wine Bar and the Phoenix.
Q. What were some of the challenges of hosting Besharam events at FLY Nightlcub?
A. Crowd control has been a challenge for us. With Besharam growing the way it did, it was important to maintain the quality of the event by making sure we had a safe space for all to enjoy a fun night out. While we wanted it to be an inclusive event with anyone and everyone who enjoyed Bollywood to come out and dance, sometimes we found a few bad apples that we needed to deal with. We also found that not everyone was respectful and loving. There were a few haters in the crowd and we had to deal with homophobia.
However, to combat such issues, we have enforced stricter entrance codes, ensured that the crowd is atleast 50% female and will be now working with Babbar protection to ensure the proper screening of patrons.
Q. What can patrons expect to see different at your new location?
A. The Courthouse is a more luxurious upscale environment with 25 high ft. ceilings, fireplaces and hardwood floors. The night promises to be warm, sexy and exotic. Expect to see the diversity of the South Asian community: Urban turbans, 905-ers, chic club goers, Bollywood buffs, sensationally dressed sari queens, hot men and women to just about anyone who likes to shake their hips to desi music. Expect a stricter entrance policy as well.
Q. Tell us about your event, Besharam Sutra, held on Friday, February 4th.
A. Both myself and DJ Amita have gone to some really great parties over the years. We tried to combine all the incredible elements of the best parties we have gone to in the new Besharam Sutra. Patrons saw live African and Dhol percussion, creative photography by Banga Photography, special sutra shooters, and other surprises. DJ Amita started the night with some Arabic, Buddah Bar and Modern Sufi as guests settled in and then built to the crowd's favourite desi hits.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Beshram Sutra – a milestone event - took place on Friday, February 4th at the Courthouse (Adelaide and Church). Sutra is a thread or line that holds things together and in this case, Besharam followers re-united in a new venue.
Stay tuned for details about Besharam's March event! DJ Amita will be spinning the best in Bollywood chart toppers, bhangra, and dance club hits.
Click HERE for more information.
Want to be part of Besharam as a live performance? If you think you have professional talent, contact [email protected].
About DJ Amita
DJ Amita is also a partner in this Besharam venture. First of all not only is she a female DJ, which is rare in any community, but Amita has been at the forefront of the South Asian music scene in Canada for over a decade. She hosts and produces Masala Mixx 88.1 FM, Saturdays 4-6pm,and is a former music columnist of Toronto Star's Desi Life Magazine. She has also performed at the opening of the Tiff Bell Lightbox, the Geminis, Luminato, Masala Mehndi Masti, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival to name a few.
I think this is among the most important info for me. And i'm glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things, The website style is ideal, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers
Posted by: rave | November 26, 2013 at 06:43 AM