This Week In Culture: Reble's Latest Single, Bandra's Latest Obsession, & More

I am back with my worst enemy: house hunting. There is nothing more exhausting, humiliating, and truly humbling than this ordeal. You end up seeing six, maybe seven houses, out of which the only one you actually like is way beyond your budget. And then, you find yourself walking around the streets of your city — in my case, Bengaluru — hoping that someone will simply appear and lead you towards the light. The light, of course, being a well-ventilated, decently spacious house that isn’t located in a creepy area. Nothing makes me feel more like Sisyphus than going gate to gate at 8 pm, asking watchmen if there are any houses available for rent in their building.

If your week has also been as exhausting as mine, this week’s curation is designed to help you unwind. From a music video that explores male intimacy and affection through a wrestling akhada to an event working towards making museums more accessible, this list is meant to help take your mind off some of the inner noise and turmoil.

Here's what we have for you this week:

Reble's Latest Single Turns The Praying Mantis Into A Metaphor For Survival

Reble’s newest single, 'Praying Mantis', transforms the predatory insect into a powerful symbol of resistance and survival within exploitative, image-driven systems. Through sharp, confrontational lyrics, Reble critiques performative success and an industry eager to commodify authenticity, instead grounding their practice in raw conviction over marketability. The accompanying music video, filmed with an abrasive, chaotic energy in Shillong, mirrors the track’s restlessness and deep suspicion of institutional power. Read more here.

In Lapgan & Baalti’s ‘Romance,’ The Akhada Becomes A Symbol Of Male Connection

Baalti and Lapgan’s music video for 'Romance' utilizes the traditional Indian akhada as a setting to explore male intimacy and fraternal affection outside Western constructs of masculinity. Directed by Kevin Rathod, the visuals capture wrestlers training, grappling, and living together, reframing "romance" as a celebration of softness and physical touch that has long existed in Indian public life without being sexualized. The track, which concludes their collaborative album Threads, pairs this thematic exploration with archival South Asian samples and bass-heavy club production. Read more here.

Patruni Sastry's 'Drag Sastra' Recenters Drag In The Legacy Of Indian Classical Art 

Patruni Sastry’s book, 'Drag Sastra', reinterprets foundational Indian performance texts like the Natyashastra through a queer lens, positioning drag within the long history of gender fluidity and theatricality in Indian art. Drawing from their own practice across classical dance and nightlife, Sastry uses concepts like Lokadharmi and Natyadharmi to explore the transition between colloquial existence and staged performance. The book maps contemporary drag onto traditional rasa theory and forms like Theyyam and Lavani, arguing that drag is a "cultured" art form equivalent to classical traditions. Read more here.

DAG’s Upcoming Disability-Centred Weekend Asks, "Who Are Museums Built For?"

DAG Kolkata’s annual program, 'A Weekend in Museums', returns this 16,17 and 18 May for International Museum Day with a dedicated focus on accessibility and inclusion. The three-day initiative transforms traditional galleries into interactive environments through sensory scavenger hunts, a Silent Disco, and workshops. By prioritising play and care over institutional rigidity, the program reimagines a future where museums are sensorially and emotionally accessible to every "body". Read more here.

Gong, Bandra’s Newest Pan-Asian Spot, Was Inspired By Sound & Sensory Design

Gong, a new Pan-Asian destination in Bandra, Mumbai, offers an immersive dining experience inspired by the sensory resonance of a gong. Led by Chef Sahil Singh, the culinary program features an extensive sushi selection alongside innovative Chuka (Japanese-style Chinese comfort food) and Itameshi (Japanese-Italian fusion) dishes like Udon Carbonara,. The bar also incorporates unique Asian ingredients like miso syrup and shiitake-infused whisky. Ultimately, Gong choreographs mood, flavor, and atmosphere into a single cohesive experience. Read more here.

Nandan Coffee's New Bengaluru Flagship Channels Kodaikanal’s Farm-To-Cup Culture

Nandan Coffee has launched its first flagship in Bengaluru at Embassy One, bridging the gap between its organic Kodaikanal estate and urban specialty coffee culture. The beverage program centres on a dedicated Filter Kaapi Bar offering contemporary flavours like Spiced Orange Vanilla, alongside specialty espresso and manual brews. Complementing the coffee is a culinary menu that fuses Kodaikanal and Mumbai influences, featuring innovative dishes like Rasam Minestrone. This farm-to-cup space emphasises provenance and sustainability, marking a new chapter for the legacy brand. Read more here.

Arth Atelier’s FW26 Collection 'Anchored in Motion' Finds Beauty In Being 'Unsettled'

Arth Atelier’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection, 'Anchored in Motion', investigates the paradox of remaining rooted while constantly evolving.Centered on a "beautifully unsettled" protagonist, the line fuses architectural tailoring with fluid softness, pairing structured blazers and gender-fluid trousers with hand-embroidered knitwear,. Prioritizing sustainability, the collection features natural textiles such as Nativa™ regenerative wool and biodegradable banana fibre, which offers a sculptural, silken drape. Read more here.

If you enjoyed this, here's more from Homegrown.

From 'Movers & Shakers' To 'The Week That Wasn't': The History Of Indian Late Night

Science Gallery Bengaluru's New Glossary Reimagines The Kaveri Beyond Its Politics 

India & Palestine: The Centuries-Old History Behind Nikita Naidu’s Gaza Solidarity Mission