eNews
Candlelight Concerts brings Western classics to Mumbai’s Heritage Royal Opera House
Mumbai: Candlelight Concerts, the globally acclaimed series of intimate, multi-sensory live music experiences, has partnered with the historic Royal Opera House Mumbai, bringing the magic of candlelit concerts to one of the city’s most treasured cultural landmarks. Launching their inaugural series at the Royal Opera House on 30 August, Candlelight Concerts promises to deliver enchanting performances in a setting rich with history and artistry.
Produced by Live Your City, a brand under the American company Fever Labs Inc, the global live-entertainment discovery platform, Candlelight Concerts democratises access to classical music. The one-of-a-kind format brings live performances to intimate settings illuminated by thousands of candles, creating a truly immersive and captivating experience.
The inaugural program at the Royal Opera House Mumbai will feature “A Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” with his timeless classics performed by a homegrown jazz band on the 30 August followed by “From Mozart to Chopin” on 27 September. The Western Classical program will feature a talented local pianist, transporting audiences back to the golden age of music.
This exclusive partnership marks a significant milestone for both Candlelight Concerts and the Royal Opera House Mumbai. It is the first time Candlelight Concerts will be held in a heritage venue in the country, transporting the audience back in time and adding an unparalleled layer of historical significance to the already enchanting experience. With more exciting performances to be announced, this partnership promises to deliver unforgettable musical experiences in a historic setting.
“We are delighted to partner with the Royal Opera House Mumbai, a genuine symbol of the city’s vibrant heritage,” said Live Your City India country manager Deepa Bajaj. “This collaboration allows us to bring Candlelight Concerts to India’s only surviving opera house, offering our audience an exceptional and unforgettable experience. The Royal Opera House Mumbai’s iconic status and architectural grandeur is the perfect backdrop for our intimate, candlelit concerts, making this a cherished partnership.”
The Royal Opera House Mumbai, a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award recipient for Cultural Heritage Conservation, is one of the last standing Baroque structures in Mumbai. Its remarkable history, architectural beauty, and propagation of arts and culture make it an ideal setting for Candlelight Concerts, where the magic of music and the allure of candlelight intertwine to create a truly magical experience.
“We are thrilled to welcome Candlelight Concerts to the Royal Opera House Mumbai,” stated Royal Opera House, Mumbai curator Asad Lalljee. “Candlelight Concerts perfectly complements Royal Opera House Mumbai’s rich legacy. We are excited about this partnership, which will continue to bring special cultural experiences with memorable performances to audiences for time to come.”
Check out the upcoming Candlelight concerts at Royal Opera House:
Candlelight: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra at The Royal Opera House
Venue: The Royal Opera House
Dates and Times: 30 August (Time- 18:00 and 20:00)
Duration: 60 minutes
Musicians: To be revealed
Value: One ticket – from 1,099 onwards
Candlelight: From Mozart to Chopin at The Royal Opera House
Venue: The Royal Opera House
Dates and Times: 27 Sep (Time- 18:00 and 20:00)
Duration: 60 minutes
Musicians: To be revealed
Value: One ticket – from 1,099 onwards
eNews
PNB partners Kiwi to launch credit-enabled UPI for users
Targets 180 million customers; RuPay card offers 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent cashback
MUMBAI: Swipe, tap, or scan credit is quietly slipping into the rhythm of everyday payments, and Punjab National Bank wants in on the action. The state-run lender has partnered with Kiwi to roll out credit-enabled UPI payments for its 180 million customers, marking a significant push to blend traditional banking with India’s fast-evolving digital payments ecosystem.
At the centre of the collaboration is the launch of the PNB Kiwi Credit Card on the RuPay network. The card is designed with a digital-first approach, offering fully online onboarding and seamless integration with UPI, allowing users to transact via scan-and-pay while accessing credit.
The offering also brings in a rewards layer, with cashback ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent on online transactions, positioning the product as both a convenience play and a spending incentive.
The move comes as UPI continues to dominate India’s digital payments landscape, increasingly blurring the lines between debit-led transactions and credit access. For PNB, which operates over 10,000 branches around 60 per cent in semi-urban and rural areas, the partnership signals a targeted effort to extend formal credit to segments that have traditionally remained underserved.
The collaboration also reflects a broader industry shift, where banks and fintech platforms are converging to embed credit directly into payment flows, reducing friction while expanding access.
With RuPay credit cards gaining traction and UPI evolving beyond peer-to-peer transfers, the PNB–Kiwi tie-up positions both players at the intersection of scale, accessibility, and the next phase of digital finance in India.
