Park Street in Kolkata has long been celebrated as India’s grandest live‑music stage. In the 1960s, every major restaurant on the boulevard housed resident bands, creating a vibrant “Park Street circuit” that allowed patrons to hop from venue to venue in a single evening. To rekindle this golden era, The Hindu is launching its Lit for Life Unplugged series, with iconic singer‑author Usha Uthup and Trincas custodian Anand Puri sharing the night on July 19.

Park Street’s Musical Circuit

During the 1960s, Park Street functioned as the country’s live‑music capital. Restaurants such as Trincas, Flurys, and others featured nightly orchestras, dance bands, and jam sessions. The circuit attracted a cross‑section of society—industrialists, actors, royalty, and sports legends mingled over music. Young Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, and even members of the British rock band The Who once walked these floors, making the street a living archive of Indian pop‑culture.

Trincas: From Swiss Confectionery to Cultural Landmark

Founded in 1927 by Swiss entrepreneurs Quinto Cinzio Trinca and Joseph Flury, Trincas began as a modest tea‑room before evolving into the marquee venue of the Park Street circuit. Its expansive dance floor, rigorous talent scouting, and afternoon jam sessions made it a magnet for Anglo‑Indian musicians. Usha Uthup, a Padma Shri award‑ee, recalls, “Trincas is my mandir, my masjid, my home. Walking in still gives me a lump in my throat.” This deep personal connection underscores the venue’s emotional weight.

Anand Puri’s Historical Lens

Historian Anand Puri has spent years researching a forthcoming book that chronicles a century of Kolkata through the story of Trincas. He describes Park Street of the 1960s as “the most exciting entertainment destination in India,” where every restaurant pulsed with live music and Trincas stood at the centre of that constellation. Puri notes that the venue hosted early performances by legends such as Engelbert Humperdinck (then Arnold Dorsey) and music‑producer Biddu, who later shaped Indian pop with hits like “Kung Fu Fighting.”

The Event’s Cultural Significance

‘Lit for Life Unplugged’ is more than a concert; it is a cultural reclamation. As Usha Uthup narrates her musical journey and Anand Puri unpacks Trincas’ storied past, the audience will experience a layered narrative that fuses entertainment with historical insight. This convergence aims to reposition Kolkata as a contemporary hub of music, memory, and storytelling, echoing the city’s once‑nightly symphonies.