A group of friends sip on coffee and catch up on pending gossip. At the far end of the room, a guitarist tunes his instrument and casually starts playing. Moments later a keyboard player, a violinist and two singers join him. Together, they jam and play ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Skyfall’, and a bunch of Tamil songs. Are they part of a band? No. Interestingly, they don’t even know each other.
The introductions happen after their performance and they plan to collaborate and play a few more songs. This is a common scene at Backyard. Akshaya Chittybabu (22) and Nithya Fernandez (23), who started this space a couple of weeks ago, like to call it an anti café.
“You pay for the time spent here and we serve you unlimited coffees and free Wi-Fi,” says Chittybabu. It’s a space for people to unwind, co-work, co-ideate, read, play a game or two (the café stocks good old Hungry Hippos and Scrabble, Monopoly...), meet new people, practise for performances... The duo plans to host events such as product design exchanges, film screenings and flea markets, because they believe that people don’t meet others unless there is an organised event. Meanwhile, lovers of solitude don’t necessarily have to worry about being part of a group and socialising. There are nooks where you can internalise or curl up with a book. Bring your own or choose from what the café provides.
And there’s food too by home chefs and bakers. The menu is diverse. There are burgers, hummus, desserts, biryani... “This is an opportunity for them to showcase their culinary skills,” says Fernandez. Chittybabu and Fernandez have been friends since their college days in Anna University School of Architecture and Planning. “For our thesis, I was working on co-ideation, and Nithya’s subject was storytelling and spaces. Our topics had similarities, and after graduation we decided to put them together and start something of our own; that’s how Backyard was born,” says Chittybabu.
It’s a two-level space spread over 900 sq ft. The top floor is for theatre, music and jam sessions. It’s a laid-back space with hanging cane lights, a bed converted into a sofa, old style chairs and furniture. “Each table is different. We have a trace table, draft table, blackboards, workspace and social table,” says Fernandez. It’s got a very Goa beach shack kind of feel. And, for a couple looking for a bit of privacy, there’s a charming table for two in a small open balcony, by a mango tree.
The ground floor is vibrant with photography and art adorning the ‘express’ wall. “These are works put up by talented artists. Some people are creative but do not have the confidence to display their works. We encourage them to share their creations here,” explains Fernandez. In order to facilitate conversations between diners, some tables even have cards with topics that can help initiate dialogue. In addition, there’s a conversation wall with a set of questions and anybody who wants can pen their answers — quirky or thought-provoking — below and connect with others.
With people mingling and discussing ideas, who knows, maybe someday Backyard may be credited as the birthplace for bright ideas. Chittybabu and Fernandez hope so too.
(This column explores interactive and introspective places around the city)
