Brands
RED FM may campaign in more cities after ‘Best of Bengaluru’ Thappa
MUMBAI: India’s most awarded and largest private radio network, 93.5 RED FM, is back with its iconic campaign Thappa with the tagline, ‘Thappa Ka Shor Hoga Once More’. This is a campaign where the brand celebrates the Best of Bengaluru! This year the brand has welcomed eight new categories that will create an impact under Book stores, Tattoo Parlours, Bakeries, Micro-Breweries, Best Thaali/ best meals, Fitness centers, Best Biryani and Juice Junctions. This marks the 5th year of the Thappa campaign, where RED FM celebrates and splashes around 27 cities across India.
The nominees in Bengaluru are as follows: (Winners highlighted and pictures attached.)
Best Thaali/ best meals:
Nagarjuna – Known for its iconic Andhra meals, chicken biryani or kebabs of all kinds (won the Red FM ka Thappa for Best Thaali/meal)
Rajdhani Thali Restaurant – A must visit for its Rajasthani thaalis
The Great Indian Thaali – The pure vegetarian heaven
Book stores:
Blossoms (Church Street) – The charming bookstore with heaps of second-hand books
Gangarams (Church Street) – One of the city’s favourite bookshops
Sapna Book House (Residency Road) – India’s largest book mall (won the RED FM Ka Thappa for Best Bookstore category)
Juice Junction:
Cool Joint (Jayanagar) – Bengaluru’s favourite sandwich joint
Juice Junction (St. Marks Road) – The one stop shop for fruits and juices
Sreeraj Lassi Bar (Shivaji Nagar) – Popularly known as the oasis of all things cooling (won the RED FM Ka Thappa for Best Juice Parlour)
Tattoo Parlour:
Dark Arts (Koramangala) – One of the earliest tattoo parlors with a database of over 1 lakh + designs
The Pumpkin Patch (Kalyan Nagar) – Known for its loyal customers all the way from Koramangala to Kanchipuram
Skin Deep Tattoo Studio (Indiranagar) – The only place to offer computer generated stencils (won the Red FM ka Thappa-for best tattoo parlour category)
Categories in progress :
Bakery
Thom’s Bakery (Frazer Town) – The iconic bakery for fresh breads, flaky samosas & sweets!
V.B. Bakery (Basavanagudi) – Known as the “Khao Gully” of Basavanagudi
Variar Bakery (Rajajinagar) – Known for its coconut biscuits, this is one of the oldest & best
Micro Brewery:
Biere club – Bengaluru’s first craft brewery known for their quality beer
Toit Brewpub – A guaranteed crowd puller due to the ambience, concept & brews
Arbour Brewing Company – Well known for its craft beer, 90s music and chilled vibes
Best Biryani:
Meghana Biryani – Serving authentic Andhra style food since 2006
Nandhana Palace – Known for its authentic cuisines prepared with the age-old practices of Southern India by the traditionally schooled Cooks of Andhra
Hyderabad Biryani House – For those of us who crave for a spicier and fiery menu!
Best Fitness Centers:
Gold’s Gym – Multiple ‘Best Fitness Chain’ award winner
Cultfit: The workout station – From yoga, boxing, Zumba to even MMA, they have it all
Talwalkars – Known as the best fitness center since 1932
Nisha Narayanan, COO, Red FM said, “We are excited to explore more cities this year and will be covering eight different categories. It is our constant endeavor to engage and strengthen our connect with our listeners. The attitude of the people of Bengaluru, who chased big dreams in small ways and became the pride of the city is recognized by the listeners themselves, since it happens through a voting mechanism. We look forward to felicitate the talents who have been clutter-breaking in their services and won our listeners’ hearts- ‘Bajaate Raho!”
Red FM’s campaign Thappa is a people’s choice award where the listeners from the cities vote for their favorite places and services; the most voted in the city is honoured with RED FM’s approval stamp ‘Thappa’. The Thappa campaign is a four-week long activity that brings a lot of excitement across all 27 cities. Listeners will get a chance to win the biggest fan contest of the newest trends by voting.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
